Walking along the north side of Auburn Way South one comes to a gap in the sidewalk between 17th Street Southeast and Muckleshoot Plaza.

Auburn intends to close it.

So on Monday, the Auburn City Council authorized Mayor Nancy Backus to accept a Washington State Transportation Improvement Board grant of $400,000 to help cover the cost of making the Auburn Way South (SR 164) sidewalks improvement project happen.

Council action authorizes the mayor to execute any agreements TIB requires for the project, expending up to the total amount of the grant.

The grant requires the City to contribute any project funds needed in excess of the grant amount, or a minimum of 52 percent of the total project cost, whichever is greater. The City estimates the preliminary project cost at $830,000, so the current estimated required match amount is $430,000.

According to the grant, the design work must start in 2017, so the grant revenue funds and required matching funds for design will be included in a future budget amendment request in 2017. Matching funds for this project are available from the 102 Arterial Street Fund. The City anticipates construction will begin in 2018.

This project is listed in the Capital Facilities Plan for 2018 and 2019 and partially included in the 2018 approved budget.