Walk and Roll: WSDOT Active Transportation Update - January 31, 2024

Washington State Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 01/31/2024 11:52 AM PST

Walk and Roll: WSDOT Active Transportation News is a service of WSDOT. Contents are included for educational purposes. Inclusion does not indicate that a resource or training represents an official requirement unless specifically noted.

    Active Transportation Division News From WSDOT and Partners

    Connectivity -- Safety -- Opportunity -- Participation -- Partnership

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    AT at the Washington State Legislature - 2024

    2024 is the middle of the State of Washington’s 2023-2025 Biennium, so it is a shorter legislative session. The Washington State Legislature makes this relative sprint through to the 60 days of session set by the state constitution by March 7 this year.

    The Legislature tackles the full biennial state budget in odd-numbered years and makes adjustments in the supplemental budgets in the following sessions. Thus the 2024 session will pass the first supplemental budget for the 2023-25 biennium; in the 2025 session they pass the second supplemental budget for '23-25 as well as the biennial budget for 2025-27.

    The Legislature addresses policy decisions in every session. We’re providing this list of transportation policy measures for those who are interested in tracking their progress.

    SB 5383 – Concerning pedestrians crossing and moving along roadways.

    SB 6010 /HB 2394 – Streamlining certain decisions pertaining to the development or extension of a trail or path from the state environmental policy act.

    SB 6024 / SHB 2160 – Promoting community and transit-oriented housing development.

    SB 5959 / HB 2384 – Concerning automated traffic safety cameras.

    HI 2117/SI2117 – Concerning carbon tax credit trading (aims to repeal the Climate Commitment Act).

    SB 6283 – Eliminating the expiration date for the Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Program. Learn more about this ATD grant program on the Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Program web page.

    New Complete Streets Statewide Planner Joins Active Transportation Division

    Since the passage of Move Ahead Washington, WSDOT has quickly mobilized to implement the new Complete Streets requirement for state transportation projects. To continue and expand this work, we are excited to welcome Ursula Sandstrom as the Complete Streets Statewide Planner. Ursula joins the statewide Complete Streets leadership team in a role dedicated to sustaining and continuously improving the functioning of the WSDOT Complete Streets program.

    Ursula comes to WSDOT after more than seven years building the paved trail field program in Washington, DC. She loved the combination of immediate problem solving and long-term strategy involved in running a maintenance and outreach program, and is excited to be able to continue to collaborate with maintenance, landscape and policy colleagues in her new role. Her leadership in DC made the program a national case study in inclusive trail programming and it was recently cited in the new FHWA guidebook on trails as resilient infrastructure.

    Complete Streets are roadways that are safe and convenient for all people using all forms of transportation. A transportation system that accommodates everyone is more efficient in the travel space provided, more accessible, safer, more economical and more sustainable. Ursula brings a strong commitment to navigating the complexity and variety of ways people use Washington roads, and ensuring solutions are inclusive of the needs of the roughly 1-in-4 Washingtonians who do not drive.

    Born in Washington, Ursula is glad to be home and spending time surrounded by the mountains and communities she loves. She’s excited to go on more bike tours, eventually read all the local history books on her shelves, and lean into the crafting potential of gray drizzly days.

    Five+ Things to Read/Watch/Hear

    Trainings, Conferences, Webinars

    We add new trainings as we find them, so the list changes with every issue. Some of these offer continuing education credits. All times are shown in Pacific time zone.

    All webinars listed are FREE unless a price is noted. All items are webinars unless a location is noted.

    January

    February

    March

    Grants and Funding Opportunities

    • Community Spark Grants from League of American Bicyclists. The program supports the growing number of local grassroots changemakers and organizations nationwide working to improve their communities through better bicycling with $1,500 mini-grants. Generous support for these grants comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of its Active People, Healthy Nation Initiative, which aims to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027. Closes February 1.
    • NEW – Community-Centered Transportation Leadership to Curb Carbon – Grant Program Development RFQ . WSDOT is seeking qualifications from interested organizations wishing to be considered for a $2 million contract to develop a grant/award program that will support this new statewide engagement program. Deadline: February 16, 4:00pm.
    • 2024 Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Technical Assistance Opportunity (National Park Service - Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance) Deadline: March 1.
    • Peninsula Regional Transportation Planning Organization has opened its call for projects process for Transportation Alternatives federal-source funding (fiscal years 2025-28). Note eligibility is limited to entities in Clallam, Jefferson and Mason counties, and other eligibility and criteria information can be found at the PRTPO website. Applications due by March 4.
    • 2024 AARP Community Challenge Grants Variety of projects (ranging from $500 up to $50,000) within the Livable Communities program are possible, including public places and mobility/transportation improvements. Government entities and private non-profits are eligible to apply. Deadline: March 6.
    • USDOT Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program – will be offering a funding opportunity up to $360,000. Applications can be submitted in an ongoing manner, and will be considered on a rolling basis; grants will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible applicants (a local government located outside of an urbanized area with a population of more than 150,000 residents; a state government seeking to advance a project for an area located outside of an urbanized area with a population of more than 150,000 residents; a federally recognized Indian Tribe; or iv. the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands) are encouraged to apply as early as possible – opportunity opened August 14, 2023.
    • Funding specifically for active transportation is coming soon from FHWA – new Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program ($45 million in Federal Fiscal Year 2023) will support planning, designing, and constructing active transportation facilities, particularly to integrate with and improve access to public transportation.
    • Keep track of all of the USDOT’s discretionary funding opportunities at the DOT Discretionary Grants Dashboard.

    Have any funding opportunities people should know about? Send to WSDOTActive@wsdot.wa.gov

    Awards, Competitions, and Kudos

    Planning and Projects

    Have an upcoming project, open house, public comment opportunity? Construction projects people should know about as they relate to biking/walking? Compliments on a project? Send to WSDOTActive@wsdot.wa.gov

    Present, Publish, Participate

    Call for Papers:

    Call for Webinar Presenters, 2024 and Beyond:

    • Provide your topic ideas for the Advancing Trails Webinar Series. If any details requested are not known, American Trails suggests that you complete the form to the best of your ability with your interest as they want to hear from you. Should your topic be selected, they are happy to save a webinar date and can obtain details to promote the webinar at a later date once available. All webinars are held on a Thursday starting at 10:00am Pacific. (American Trails)

    Call for Abstracts/Session Proposals:

    Research and Resources

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    Chris Hawkins, Active Transportation Planner
    WSDOT Active Transportation Division

    hawkinc@wsdot.wa.gov