Washington state is making it even more pleasant to get out and walk or ride around town! Every year, the state makes grants available to cities and counties for bicycle and pedestrian projects, and improvements to school routes.
Here are Five Fast Facts on an exceptionally big year for non-car transportation grants:
- 🏧The ATM Is Humming - This year the state doubled the amount available (to $100 million) and made it easier for smaller applicants to get in on the cash. If the government ATM is spitting out cash, might as well get some of it, right?
- 🚐🛣️Where Did It Come From? The money is coming from a 16-year transportation package passed last year (mostly by Democrats) for “non-car” travel around the state. $1.3 billion of it is marked for routes used by walkers, bikers, and kids going to school. Maybe they’ll even put their phones away and enjoy the awesome new digs!
- 💰💰How Much We Talkin’ About? When the application period closed in May, the state had received over $450 million in applications, more than double the total requested in 2020! In fact, the response was so huge that the state will only be able to fund a quarter of it. I guess the ATM ran out after all!
- ⚖️Leveling The Playing Field - In past years, smaller cities and counties struggled to get the money because they were compared to large cities like Seattle, Olympia, and Tacoma. This year the state made it easier for areas that didn’t have staff dedicated to obtaining grants, or projects that weren’t necessarily “shovel ready.” It also compared areas of similar size. Why weren't they doing that before?!?!
- 📈Bigger And Bigger - Also of note this year is that applications were asking for bigger amounts. It’s partly because more money was available, but also because inflation has driven up costs on everything. Of course it has. *sigh* On the other hand, that means more construction jobs for Washington Paychecks!
🔥Bottom line: The thing we like best about this is that all these construction projects will lead to jobs and Paychecks! And, as you know if you’re reading this, we’re all about those! The next few years should be a pretty fun ride down this new path!
What improvements are needed near you?
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