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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Neighborhood Street Fund Generates Record Number of Applications
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
6/11/2007 12:15:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Richard Sheridan (206) 684-8540
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Neighborhood Street Fund Generates Record Number of Applications
New Bridging The Gap funds and Increased Outreach Cited
(Seattle) - Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods has received over 500 applications for Neighborhood Street Fund/Cumulative Reserve Fund (NSF/CRF) projects, or more than four times the number of requests received in previous years. The record level of applications reflects recent efforts to expand community outreach efforts and heighten public awareness of an additional $1.5 million in available funds through the voter approved Bridging the Gap transportation levy.
“We worked hard to inform the community about this great opportunity for citizens to leverage additional funds made available by Bridging the Gap to enhance their neighborhood transportation infrastructure” said SDOT Director Grace Crunican. “This overwhelming response shows the pent up demand for transportation improvements across the city.”
This year’s application process included both Large Project (up to $500,000) and Small Project (up to $100,000) categories. Small Projects include traffic circles, sidewalk repairs, walkways, traffic control improvements or similar facilities. Large Projects include new sidewalk construction, corridor long pedestrian improvements, street repaving, and neighborhood traffic calming efforts over several blocks.
This month, the 13 Neighborhood District Councils will prioritize their top five Small Projects. In August, District Council members will make final Small Project funding recommendations.
Over the summer, SDOT will develop cost estimates, feasibility and descriptions for Large Project requests. The city will then take public comment on Large Project proposals at open houses in September. Following the open houses, a city-wide volunteer citizens committee, which will include District Council representatives and at-large members, will also review Large Project proposals.
This year’s NSF/CRF application process closed in May.
The city will select and construct Large Projects on a three-year cycle. Citizens can apply again for Large Projects in 2010. Small Projects are funded and constructed annually. The next Small Project application cycle will open in Spring 2008.
For more information, go to http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/btgnsfcrf/ .
The Seattle Department of Transportation builds, maintains and operates Seattle's $8 billion transportation infrastructure. To further Mayor Nickels’ goal to get Seattle moving, the department manages short- and long-term investments in streets, bridges, pavement and trees, that better connect the city with the region.
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