Seattle City Council to pick $2M in District 3 street and sidewalk projects

(Image: SDOT)

A new annual funding process with $7 million available for district-by-district street and sidewalk projects across Seattle could be short-lived but first the Seattle City Council must finalize what projects made the cut in 2026.

Each district is eligible for $2 million in projects under the process.

District 3 representative Joy Hollingsworth’s office submitted 10 proposals in this possible final year of the program, according to a presentation updating the councils transportation committee on the process last week.

In all, council members submitted 70 projects. According to the update (PDF), project proposals up for consideration this year range from street maintenance to public realm improvements and most requests involve “crossing enhancements and traffic calming.”

2026 could mark the end of the District Project Fund process. Boosted as part of the 2024 transportation levy renewal, the program will require renewed funding to continue. It was approved by the council last fall.

Under the program, each council representative can nominate “neighborhood-scale traffic safety improvements” — and “other district priorities” — for the funding. The projects must ultimately be approved by the council’s transportation committee and then the full council. Any unspent funding carries forward.

As part of the process, the Seattle Department of Transportation reviews each proposal for feasibility and develops cost estimates.

SDOT also prepares recommendations for the council to consider, According to the presentation, SDOT has given its recommendation to 55 of the 60 submitted projects.

Most of the projects, it says, can be delivered in 2027.

SDOT says some of the district project rosters exceed the $2 million cap so “lower cost options” might be required or some projects could be deferred.

Council members must finalize each district project list by June 1st.

In 2025, Hollingsworth utilized the funding to boost spending for the district like a new Capitol Hill Community Safety Coordinator role at GSBA, planning for a possible Capitol Hill Street Ambassador Program, and support for the YouthCare Constellation Center — not necessarily street or sidewalk projects.

CHS has asked Hollingsworth’s office and SDOT for the 2026 D3 roster.

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