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Connectivity -- Safety -- Opportunity -- Participation -- Partnership
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What you'll find in this issue:
Welcome to this special edition of the Wall and Roll Newsletter! With respect to your inbox, we rarely send out special editions – however, we have some exciting grant-related news that just can’t wait for our regular monthly check-in. Both of these projects are supported by Climate Commitment Act revenues. Read on to learn about two big ways we’re helping Washington communities develop infrastructure and bicycle access!
Tell Us: Where should the Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Grant Program invest next?
On behalf of WSDOT, our division is excited to offer another round of the Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Grant Program (SWCCP) for 2025-2026. The program invests in active transportation planning and connectivity improvements for people walking, biking and rolling along and across current and former state highways.
The call for projects is open! You can submit interest forms nominating eligible locations through September 19, 2025. We’ll be granting projects around the state up to a combined $10 million this round.
You’ll find all necessary eligibility and application information on the Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Program web page, but we’re including key information below. Let Clara Cheeves know if you have questions or need support.
Background
This program honors Sandy Williams, a community activist who worked to reconnect her African American neighborhood after the construction of Interstate 90 through Spokane split the city in half.
Am I eligible to submit a project for consideration?
Eligible applicants include:
- Local jurisdictions, tribal governments, WSDOT Regions (Region staff need to partner with the local jurisdiction the project is in for the application).
- For planning grants only: Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO), Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPO) and Nonprofit Organizations.
Funds from SWCCP can be used for planning, design or construction projects.
They can be used as a match for a federal grant award. However, we don’t require matching funds.
Our priorities
We prioritize projects in areas we consider Very High or High Equity Need, or that are in overburdened community boundaries. Learn whether we would categorize your project location this way by using the Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Equity Need Viewer (arcgis.com). This tool identifies high equity need communities, pedestrian and bicycle collisions, and demographic information about the project area that collectively help us select projects for the program. (Review “Elements of a strong project proposal” on the SWCCP webpage!)
Important dates
The invitation for projects is open through midnight on September 19th, 2025. You’ll need to submit a project interest form to be considered.
We held a design-focused information session yesterday and will hold an info session on August 27th. Join us!
Imagine a library – but it’s full of e-bikes and still free to use
Our newest grant program proves libraries are for more than books! We are accepting applications through Sept. 26, 2025, for our new E-Bike Lending Library and Ownership Grant Program.
We'll award about $3 million collectively in grant funding, and don’t require matching funds.
Rewind – what is this program?
The state legislature funded this grant program to help more people use e-bikes by sharing them. Think of e-bike libraries as community-managed e-bike stables full of borrowable e-bikes. Eligible Washington residents can borrow these e-bikes for a fixed period of time. If you receive a grant to support your existing or future e-bike library loan project, you can decide if you want to give loaners the ability to own these e-bikes at the end of their loan period.
So what?
Washington residents can try e-bikes for free and decide if they are useful to their lifestyle. Ultimately, people borrowing e-bikes may use them during trips they may otherwise have driven by car.
Who can apply
Government entities, tribes, and non-profit organizations.
Important dates
Register now for a Q+A session on Aug. 28, 2025.
Please reach out to Adele Peers at ebike.library@wsdot.wa.gov with any questions. You can find more information about the program now on its webpage.
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 Standard Time.
All items are webinars unless a location is noted.
August
September
- Sept. 4, 8:30 a.m. MDOT in Motion: Strategizing for Transportation Trails (Maryland Department of Planning)
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Sept. 4, 10 a.m. – National Collaboration Efforts on Federal Trail Data and Tools (American Trails – donations appreciated)
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Sept. 9, 11 a.m. – Road Safety Champion Program: Overview of the MUTCD (National Center for Rural Road Safety)
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Sept. 10, 12 noon – 2025 U.S. Federal Policy Webinar - 3rd Quarter– 3rd Quarter (APBP)
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Sept.11, 10 a.m. – AASHTO Bike Guide Series Part 3: Additional Advances in Bicycling Design (PBIC)
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Sept. 11, 10 a.m. – Helping Communities Tell Their Outdoor Recreation Economic Story (American Trails – donations appreciated)
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Sept. 15–19, Providence, RI – AMPO Annual Conference (Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations – Fee)
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Sept. 17, 11 a.m. – Spatial and Temporal Shifts in Pedestrian Serious Injuries and Fatalities (CPBS)
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Sept. 17, 12 noon – Designing, Delivering, and Scaling an Income-Tiered E-Bike Rebate Program from Local to Provincial Implementation (APBP - Fee)
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Sept. 25, 5 p.m. – Pierce County Trails Conference (ForeverGreen Trails – Fee)
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Sept. 25–26 – APBP Virtual Summit 2025 (APBP – Fee)
Save the Date
If you read this far, thank you! You're finding something of value here and you know someone else who should receive this kind of news. Forward WSDOT Walk and Roll to others and share the subscription link on social media (tag it #WSDOTactive).
Hannah Weinberger
Communication Lead, WSDOT Active Transportation Division
hannah.weinberger@wsdot.wa.gov
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