The Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (T.I.B.) awarded road and sidewalk improvement grants valued at $70.3 million to 64 agencies at its Nov. 19 meeting in SeaTac.

The grant funding comes from the revenue generated by three cents of the statewide gas tax dedicated by the Legislature to projects selected by the T.I.B.

The Board awarded over $15.9 million to Pierce County and 8 cities within the County, funding over 42 percent of the transportation projects selected for this region.

Two projects in unincorporated Pierce County received nearly $8 million.
The Pacific Avenue funding responds to community requests for curbing, landscaping and lighting upgrades to a Washington State Department of Transportation project to be constructed in 2005.

Funding for 112th Street East will allow Pierce County to complete the corridor after multiple construction stages.

The Tacoma project provides for widening and sidewalks on S. Tyler Street to extend improvements previously funded by the T.I.B.

Puyallup received a $2.2 million grant for widening of the 9th Street SW corridor in busy South Hill.

The Legislature created the T.I.B. to foster state investment in quality local transportation projects. Project funding is awarded on a competitive basis using rating criteria established by the Board and usually requires local financial participation.

During 2004, local governments across the state completed or are currently building about 500 projects funded in part by T.I.B. grants.