Eligibility

• Tribal Governments 

• Local Jurisdictions 

• Work with the WSDOT region if developing a project on the state system 

• Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) (For a planning grant only) 

• Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPO) (For a planning grant only) 

• Nonprofit Organizations (For a planning grant only) 

• WSDOT Region 

• Region staff need to obtain the support of the local jurisdiction the project is located in 

The program focuses on communities that meet criteria for high equity need statewide, and on or adjacent to tribal lands or locations providing essential services to tribal members. There are several ways to identify which of their communities or geographic areas are eligible. Use the Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Program Equity Needs map to locate the project location to understand the level of equity need, comprised of the social, economic and transportation indicators of communities near the project location. The program prioritizes projects in very high and high equity need areas for funding. 

These resources can be used to identify a geographic area that would be eligible for the grant program: 

• The Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Equity Needs Viewer 

• The program prioritizes projects in areas that have been identified as high equity need. The map also provides an understanding of pedestrian and bicycle crash data, demographic information for communities and the location of legacy state facilities. 

• The Overburdened Communities Mapping tool is also able to be accessed from the Equity needs map, and can also be used to identify communities to fund. This tool was created using Washington’s Environmental Health Disparities Map, Climate Economic Justice Screening Tool, and Tribal Data and uses several key indicators including health, income, and exposure to environmental hazards.   

Selection Criteria 

High Priority Project Proposals will exhibit the following:  

IMPACT 

• The project will connect people to essential resources and community spaces, such as educational opportunities, transit, health centers, parks, or the grocery store 

• The project will contribute resources to the community through partnerships with community-based organizations and equitable contracting opportunities 

• The proposed project benefits the local community and engages community partners in its planning, development, execution 

VIABILITY 

• The potential of the project to increase safety for people walking, biking, and rolling 

• The project team has the staff capacity and identified resources to manage the project effectively 

• The project has demonstrated support from city and community members most affected, through existing partnerships or a thoughtful outreach/engagement plan 

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP 

• The project works with communities to identify the level of equity need in the community through participatory data collection, storytelling, and photo voice 

• Development of a community engagement plan that leads to community engagement and ownership of the project in both the short and long-term 

Community Advisory Council 

The Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Program (SWCCP) is dedicated to making it easier for people to walk, bike, or roll across current or former state highways. Soon, we will open up grant opportunities to fund projects to help us accomplish this goal. To ensure we choose the projects that will most benefit the community, we invite community members to help shape our decision-making process and be part of the committee reviewing grant applications. 

What is the Community Advisory Council?  

A group of 10-12 community members who walk, bike, or use mobility devices. The council will prioritize people who use active transportation to get across state highways and communities furthest from transportation justice (youth, seniors, people with disabilities, low-wealth communities, communities of color, Tribal members, and caregivers).  

The council will create a grant selection process, evaluation criteria, and a scoring template over the course of four meetings in October.