Costs and Funding

Crosswalk at 176th St E
Costs and Funding

Pierce County estimates $100 million is needed to improve all existing non-compliant facilities in the 2018 inventory.

Cost model
First, we defined impact levels (low, mid, and high) based on the required engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and construction. Then we set the costs for each impact level using project cost data. This was done to more accurately assign improvement cost and will change from year to year.

Next we designed a model to assign the low, mid, and high impact costs to non-compliant facilities based on various measurements.

Total cost by facility type and impact level:
Diagram of an accessible pedestrian signal with sign reading 'CROSS ONLY ON SIGNAL
Pedestrian Push Buttons
Rebuild existing
Level of Impact Low High Total
Cost per push button $1,250 $6,000  
Non-Compliant (each) 188 393 581

$235,000 $2,358,000 $2,593,000
Diagram of sidewalk
Sidewalks
Rebuild existing
Level of Impact Low Mid High Total
Cost per linear foot $104 $124 $141  
Non-Compliant (linear feet) 581,366 22,042 11,141  614,549
  $60,462,064 $2,733,208 $1,570,881 $64,766,153
Diagram of a driveway intersected by a sidewalk
Driveway Entrances
Rebuild existing
Level of Impact Low Mid High Total
Cost per driveway entrance $3,542 $5,546 $6,420  
Non-Compliant (each) 599 493 315  1407
  $2,121,658 $2,734,178 $2,022,300 $6,878,136
Diagram of a perpendicular curb ramp with detectable warning surface
Curb Ramps (Existing and Missing)
Rebuild existing/Create new
Level of Impact Low Mid High Total
Cost per curb ramp $3,455 $5,170 $20,195  
Non-Compliant (each) 2586 1481 494  4561
  $8,934,630 $7,656,770 $9,976,330 $26,567,730
Funding sources

The ADA Improvement Program will use several funding sources to make the county accessible. ADA improvements will be funded either as stand-alone projects or as a part of another road improvement project.

Local funding programs
County Road Fund: This is the primary source of funding to plan, improve, maintain, and operate the county road system. It comes from the road levy portion of the property tax and a portion of the State Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax. This funding will be used for the ADA Improvement Program’s annual work.

Traffic Impact Fees: These fees are charges on new development. They pay for improvements to the transportation system needed due to new development. These fees will only be used on capital improvements, which may include existing pedestrian facilities. They will not be used for stand-alone ADA projects.

Federal and State Funding Programs
We pursue grant opportunities offered by agencies such as:
  • Washington State Transportation Improvement Board
  • Washington State Department of Transportation
  • Federal Highway Administration
  • Puget Sound Regional Council