Capital Improvements
What are capital improvements?
Capital improvements are typically new construction or reconstruction projects that add or restore City infrastructure. Public Works projects can have a focus on transportation, storm and surface water management or both. Capital improvement projects include features like vehicle travel lanes, sidewalks, bike lanes, intersections, and stormwater treatments.
How does the City choose Capital Improvement projects?
The list of capital improvement projects is typically determined from a long-range planning process culminating in the City's Comprehensive Plan. That list is further refined into a Transportation Improvement Plan and Stormwater Capital Improvement Plan through interactions with City Council, public input, and asset management monitoring.
How does the City develop capital improvement projects?
Once it is determined that a project should move forward, staff will work with City Council, the community, consultants/contractors, and sometimes other agencies to develop engineering plans and construct the project. This process could take anywhere from a few months to years depending on the complexity of the project and funding availability.
How is the public involved in capital improvement projects?
Public participation is an important element in all phases of a capital project, from planning to construction to long term maintenance.
If you see a need for a capital project, please get engaged in the process through review of the planning documents described above, discussion with City Council and with staff.
If you have the time, please fill out this short questionnaire to help us gather demographic information to improve the public involvement process: Title VI Public Involvement Form
Active Capital Improvement Projects
These projects create new connections and are building new infrastructure for the community, including: 4,665 linear feet (0.88 mile) of new sidewalk, 3,768 linear feet of new bike lanes, 7 new crosswalks, new streetlights, and a new short-span bridge. The projects also upgrade a traffic signal cabinet and 11 curb ramps for accessibility. The projects remove 4 fish passage barriers, treat over 23 acres of stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces, restore approximately 1 acre of habitat and riparian area, and open approximately 1 river mile of stream habitat for salmonoids.
2026 Projects in construction phase being managed by the Public Works Department:
Louis Thompson Tightline Project
SE 32nd Street Sidewalk Project
SE 6th Street Improvements - Phase A
George Davis Creek Fish Passage & Storm Improvement Project
Loree Estates Outfall Diversion
The projects below are in design phase, with a planned construction date of 2027:
ADA 2026 Barrier Removal Project
Sidewalk Program, 2027 Project: design will begin in late 2026/early 2027
The following projects are in the early stages of design or will begin design later this year, with a planned construction date later than 2027:
Issaquah Fall City Rd Mitigation
Sahalee Way Corridor Improvements
East Lake Sammamish Parkway Stabilization Project