Have Questions About this Program?
Todd O'Brien, PE
Grant and Special Projects Manager
todd.obrien@crab.wa.gov
360-485-1266
A new grant program is coming to county roads!
Over a third of Washington's road system have had no dedicated grant funding source, leaving counties with limited or no options for critical projects. At over 78,000 lane miles, Washington's entire county road system is enormous - it is enough to go around the equator three times! While vast and diverse in its needs, by far the biggest funding gap facing our road system today has been our local roads.
At 48,917 lane miles, county local roads are 2.5 times bigger than the entire state highway system and provide primary access to residential, industrial, agricultural, and commercial areas in all 39 counties.
Unfortunately, due to declining gas tax revenues, increasing inflationary measures, and decades of underinvestment in preservation in maintenance by the state, counties have been in no position to address significant projects on these roads and there has been no dedicated grant funding source to help.
Based on the recommendations of a 2024 study, the County Road Administration Board proposed a new program for the first time in 30 years: a competitive grant program for local roads flexible enough to meet the diverse needs of counties. The legislature agreed, creating the program and providing $21 million in much needed funding for the 2027-2029 biennium.
So, what happens now?
We at CRAB are working hard behind the scenes to stand up the program so our counties are ready to break ground in Summer 2027:
- New Staff: In October 2025 we brought on Todd O' Brien, PE to manage the program. He comes to the agency with decades of experience in county public works and grant experience.
- New Rules: Our staff is drafting WAC rules for a well-rounded, straightforward program for board review and approval. We are taking many aspects of what has made the RAP Program successful over the last 40 years and building the application process. It will help us demonstrate and quantify the need for the program for policymakers as we request short-term funding as we stand up the program and fully funding it at the requested $40 million level for the 2027-2029 biennium.
- Lots of Communication: Todd and staff are hitting the road to meet with counties and stakeholders, solicit feedback, and answer questions about the program as it is being developed. Additional information will be added below as it becomes available.
Grant Application Schedule
The program is being implemented using a phased-in approach to recognize the realities of establishing a new program; priority will be given to projects that will be shovel-ready by Summer 2027. The program will be built using a fair, non-partisan scoring criteria that will drive investments to the highest need and priority projects.
| STEP | INFORMATION | DATE |
|---|---|---|
|
WAC Rules Approved |
Rules will be reviewed and approved by the board during the January board meeting. | January 2026 |
|
Call for Proposals
|
Spring 2026 | |
|
Proposal Review |
Summer 2026 |
|
|
Awards Announced |
||
|
Projects Break Ground |
Funding for projects will be released July 1, 2027 as part of the 2027-2029 biennium. | Summer 2027 |
Eligible Projects
Eligible projects will include 2R, 3R, reconstruction, bridge replacement, fish passage barriers, and pedestrian facilities on county local roads.
Ineligible Projects
Arterials and collector-designated roads and non-county roads are ineligible for the program.
Who May Apply
The program is available to all 39 counties in compliance with the Standards of Good Practice, demonstrated by a current Certificate of Good Practice or Conditional Certificate of Good Practice.
Button: Start Your Application
Funding
Grant Limits
Match Details