Thought Leadership

Building Smarter Street Preservation Programs

October 8, 2026

By Matias Mendez, Senior Director, Geotechnical Services, WSB

For cities and counties, maintaining roadway networks is becoming more challenging as infrastructure ages and budgets remain constrained. While pavement condition ratings have traditionally driven investment decisions, today’s most effective preservation programs take a broader asset management approach. Rather than evaluating roads in isolation, agencies are increasingly considering how pavement conditions, underground utilities, traffic safety, and long-term financial performance work together. In an era of rising construction costs and aging infrastructure, the ability to do more with existing assets has become one of the most important measures of a successful transportation program. Residents expect safe, reliable roadways, but they also expect public agencies to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. By balancing these factors, communities can extend infrastructure life, reduce future costs, and get more value from every transportation dollar without increasing budgets.

The foundation of a smarter preservation program is proactive maintenance. Rather than waiting for roads to deteriorate to the point of costly reconstruction, agencies can use pavement management tools, condition assessments, and predictive modeling to identify the right treatment at the right time. Early interventions often extend pavement life, reduce future repair costs, and delay major capital expenditures. From an asset management perspective, preserving a road in fair conditions is often far more cost effective than reconstructing it after it has failed. In many cases, small investments made at the right time can save communities significant costs over the life of the asset.

Successful preservation programs also consider what lies beneath the pavement. Coordinating roadway improvements with planned water, sewer, stormwater, or utility upgrades helps communities avoid excavating newly resurfaced roads and spending valuable resources twice. At the same time, roadway projects create opportunities to incorporate safety improvements such as upgraded pavement markings, ADA enhancements, pedestrian crossings, bicycle accommodations, and intersection improvements. Addressing these needs together minimizes disruption, improves public safety, strengthens system resiliency, and maximizes the return on every infrastructure investment.

The most forward-thinking agencies prioritize projects using an asset management and lifecycle cost approach rather than pavement conditions alone. The question is no longer simply which road is in the worst condition, but which investment will deliver the greatest long-term value for the community. Factors such as utility age, traffic volumes, crash history, future development, funding availability, and long-term maintenance obligations should all play a role in project selection. By asking whether utility replacements can be coordinated, safety improvements can be integrated, or preservation treatments can delay reconstruction, agencies can make more strategic decisions, lower total ownership costs, and maximize the return on public infrastructure investments. Just as importantly, this approach helps communities reduce deferred maintenance backlogs and avoid allowing relatively minor issues to evolve into significantly more expensive capital projects in the future.

At WSB, we help cities and counties take a comprehensive asset management approach to street preservation. Our team combines pavement asset management, geotechnical engineering, pavement design, utility coordination, deterioration forecasting, and capital investment planning to help clients prioritize projects based on long term value. By evaluating infrastructure as a connected system rather than a collection of individual projects, we help communities reduce lifecycle costs, stretch limited budgets further, and make more informed investment decisions. The future of street preservation is not about finding more funding. It is about making smarter decisions with the resources already available. By balancing maintenance needs, utility investments, safety priorities, and lifecycle costs, communities can get more life from every mile while building safer, more resilient transportation networks for the future.

Who Owns GIS Security at Your Organization?

September 25, 2026

By Alex Johnson, Lead Solution Architect, WSB

Geographic information systems, or GIS, rarely remain just mapping systems. Over time, GIS becomes connected to infrastructure, assets, permitting, planning, emergency response, field operations, regulatory compliance, and public-facing applications. As GIS becomes more integrated into daily operations, protecting it becomes increasingly important.

The challenge is that responsibility for GIS security is not always clear. IT teams may manage infrastructure and cybersecurity, GIS administrators manage the platform and user access, and department leaders rely on GIS to support critical business functions. As GIS grows across an organization, security responsibilities can become fragmented or unclear.

Why Does GIS Security Matter?

For executive and department leaders, GIS security is not simply a technology issue. It is a business continuity and organizational risk issue The key question is not whether a particular security setting has been enabled, it is whether your organization understands which services, decisions, and business processes depend on GIS, and what would happen if that information became unavailable or could not be trusted.

GIS often supports infrastructure management, planning and permitting, emergency response, field operations, public-facing applications, and integrations with other business systems. Not every GIS application carries the same level of risk. A public reference map has very different security requirements than an application supporting emergency response, regulated assets, or critical operations. Leadership does not need to manage technical controls, but it should identify which GIS capabilities are most important and establish expectations for protecting and restoring them.

Who Is Responsible for GIS Security?

GIS security works best when responsibilities are clearly defined across the organization.

IT teams typically manage network security, servers, identity management, backups, and cybersecurity policies. GIS administrators oversee platform configuration, user roles, sharing settings, and service dependencies. Executive and department leaders determine which services are most critical and what level of disruption the organization can tolerate.

A useful starting point is identifying ownership for:

• Infrastructure security
• GIS platform configuration
• User access and permissions
• Software updates and patches
• Backup and recovery testing
• Vulnerability remediation
• Business continuity planning

The goal is not to assign everything to one person, but to eliminate assumptions and establish accountability across GIS, IT, and leadership teams.

Where Should Organizations Start?

A practical GIS security review can begin with five steps:

1. Identify what depends on GIS. Document the services, applications, and processes that rely on GIS.
2. Define responsibilities. Establish ownership for key security and operational functions.
3. Assess the current environment. Review user access, public sharing settings, software versions, patches, backups, and platform configurations.
4. Prioritize improvements. Address issues based on risk and operational impact.
5. Create a recurring review process. Regular reviews help keep pace with evolving systems, users, and integrations.

For enterprise GIS platforms, reviews should consider both the supporting technology environment and the GIS platform itself. GIS and IT teams should evaluate findings together, while leadership helps prioritize efforts based on operational needs.

Five Questions Leadership Can Ask

Executive and department leaders do not need to become GIS security specialists, but they should ask:

1. What important organizational functions depend on GIS?
2. Who owns security for the GIS environment?
3. When was the environment last reviewed against current vendor guidance?
4. Do GIS and IT review security findings together?
5. Is there a tested way to restore essential GIS capabilities?

If these questions are difficult to answer, governance may need attention.

GIS has become essential operational infrastructure for many organizations. Protecting it starts with understanding what depends on it, defining ownership, and creating alignment between leadership, IT, and GIS teams.

WSB helps organizations assess GIS environments, identify security risks, clarify governance responsibilities, and develop practical strategies that support security and operational continuity. Whether evaluating a current GIS environment or strengthening long-term governance, our team can help build a more secure and resilient GIS program. Contact WSB to learn how a GIS security review can help reduce risk and strengthen organizational preparedness.

Nests and Permitting: An Early Bird Strategy Saves Time and Money  

September 24, 2026

By Tom Jenkins, Supervisor, Natural Resources, WSB

As an ecologist and project manager supporting sites across the Northwest, I’ve spent much of my career helping project teams navigate environmental requirements during construction. Time and time again, one lesson stands out: when nesting bird considerations are addressed early, projects tend to move more smoothly. 

A Real-World Example: Gray’s Meadow 

That lesson came into focus on the Gray’s Meadow Project in Idaho, a 700-acre site that required large-scale remediation and restoration work during migratory bird nesting season. Because the site was only accessible during the drier months, construction activities and nesting season would inevitably overlap. Given the size of the project, relying on traditional weekly bird surveys across the entire site would have been costly and difficult to coordinate with active construction. 

To create a more practical approach, the project team worked closely with the owner, designers, and contractors before construction began to identify likely nesting areas, understand upcoming construction activities, and plan for potential conflicts. This approach allowed survey efforts to focus on areas with the highest potential for nesting activity and when birds were most likely to be present. 

The result was a more efficient process that reduced field effort, controlled costs, and helped construction stay on schedule without compromising environmental commitments. Just as importantly, it demonstrated that bird surveys can provide tangible project value when they are used to inform planning and decision-making rather than simply satisfy regulatory requirements. 

Bird Surveys as a Planning Tool 

Gray’s Meadow is not unique. Whether supporting remediation, infrastructure, or land development projects, the best outcomes occur when ecological expertise is incorporated early in project planning. 

By understanding habitat conditions, identifying potential nesting conflicts, and planning proactively, project teams can address challenges before they become schedule impacts. Projects move more smoothly, risks are reduced, and nesting-season constraints become easier to manage. In that sense, bird surveys are not just a compliance activity. They are a practical planning tool that helps teams deliver successful projects. 

Birds and Bridges: Why Early Environmental Planning Pays Off 

September 23, 2026

By Tarita Harju, Manager, Natural Resources, WSB

Bridge projects across the Northwest are essential, not simple. Agencies balance limited budgets, tight construction windows, evolving regulations, and a growing need for infrastructure investment. With one in three U.S. bridges requiring repair or replacement, minimizing schedule and budget risks is more important than ever. 

One risk that can be managed early is migratory bird compliance. 

Requirements under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), nesting bird surveys, threatened and endangered species reviews, and NEPA can all affect construction timing and project delivery. For federally funded bridge projects, these considerations are a routine part of environmental review and permitting. 

Planning Makes the Difference 

A great example comes from the Gardner River High Bridge. This historic steel truss bridge in Yellowstone National Park is undergoing a major rehabilitation to replace its aging lead-based paint system, concrete approach spans, joints, and guard walls – helping to preserve the structure and extend its service life. Because the bridge and surrounding canyon provide ideal nesting habitat for swallows, ravens, and other protected birds, WSB was brought in to develop a Migratory Bird Deterrent Plan and provide daily biological monitoring throughout construction.  

That early planning proved critical when repeated nesting attempts by migratory birds were avoided by onsite deterrent measures. With species-specific buffers, stop-work protocols, and escalating deterrent measures already in place, the team quickly adapted, allowing construction to continue in other work areas and helping the contractor avoid an unplanned shutdown. WSB biologists documented protected species and coordinated closely with federal and park agencies to ensure compliance, demonstrating how proactive environmental planning kept complex infrastructure projects moving forward while protecting wildlife. 

Four Ways to Reduce Risk 

The Gardner River project demonstrated a simple reality: when migratory bird considerations are addressed early, they become manageable challenges rather than costly surprises. This approach can help teams reduce risk and maintain schedule certainty. 

1. Survey early to identify bird activity during project scoping or preliminary design. 

2. Understand nesting locations and species-specific behaviors before construction schedules are finalized. 

3. Build requirements into the schedule, including seasonal restrictions, deterrent measures, and contingency planning. 

4. Monitor during construction to maintain compliance and address issues before they affect project delivery. 

Think Beyond Compliance 

The most successful bridge projects approach migratory bird compliance as part of project delivery. When environmental requirements are addressed early, they become manageable components of a more predictable construction program, helping agencies reduce risk, maintain schedules, and keep critical bridge improvements moving forward without adverse impacts on wildlife.  

Construction Is Built on People 

September 17, 2026

By Jennifer Bullard, Vice President, Construction 

Construction Appreciation Week is a chance to recognize the people who make our industry strong. While the projects we deliver are important, it’s the individuals behind them who drive success every day. 

Throughout my career, I’ve learned that trust is one of the most important foundations of any team. If we expect our teams to trust us as leaders, we have to trust them in return. That means empowering people to make decisions, take ownership of their work and continue growing through experience. When people know they’re trusted and supported, they’re more confident stepping up, solving problems and leading others. 

One of the most rewarding parts of leadership is investing in others. I enjoy helping people grow, recognizing their strengths and celebrating their accomplishments. At the same time, growth requires honest conversations. The best teams are built when people feel supported enough to hear the hard things and respected enough to learn from them. 

I’ve found that respect isn’t about avoiding difficult conversations. It’s about being willing to have them because you care about the success of the people around you. Some of the most valuable lessons in my career have come from honest feedback, and I believe the same is true for the next generation of leaders in our industry. 

Construction has always been a people business. We build infrastructure that serves communities, but none of it happens without dedicated professionals who show up every day ready to solve problems, support their teammates and deliver for clients. 

This Construction Appreciation Week, I’m grateful for the people who make this industry what it is. Their dedication, expertise and commitment to one another are what truly make a difference. 

At the end of the day, construction isn’t just about what we build. It’s about the people who make it possible. 

Preparing for Future Growth: Using the Comprehensive Plan to Turn Community Vision into Strategic Action

September 11, 2026

By Lori Johnson, Senior Professional Community Planner I, WSB

A comprehensive plan helps a community anticipate growth instead of reacting to it.

It connects long-term vision with land use, infrastructure, housing, transportation, economic development, parks, facilities, and implementation.

A strong comprehensive plan is more than a required process. It turns a community’s vision into locally grounded decisions about growth, investment, infrastructure, housing, mobility, natural resources, economic development, and community character, while accounting for applicable state and regional frameworks.

Turn the Local Vision into Strategic Action

The planning process should begin with the community’s goals, desired growth pattern, and long term priorities. State, county, watershed, transportation, utility, and regional guidance can help inform decision making, but the plan’s central purpose remains translating local values into clear direction for growth and public investment.

Communities must connect local goals with land use, infrastructure, housing, mobility, economic development, and implementation. The plan should show where growth can be supported, which investments and regulatory changes are needed, and how coordinated policies can advance community defined outcomes.

1. Build a Community-Driven Vision for Growth

Ongoing engagement with residents, businesses, property owners, organizations, and officials helps define where change is appropriate, what growth should look like, and which community qualities should be protected.

• Use varied participation methods and remove barriers so more voices shape the plan.
• Use maps, scenarios, visuals, and plain language to explain choices and tradeoffs.
• Report what was heard and show how input shaped goals, policies, and priorities.

2. Identify Where and How Growth Should Occur

The future land use plan identifies growth areas, redevelopment opportunities, preservation priorities, and appropriate patterns for housing, employment, services, mixed-use centers, natural resources, and facilities.

• Where should new development, infill, redevelopment, and preservation occur?
• What uses, densities, intensities, and community qualities are appropriate in each area?
• What infrastructure, services, and phased investments are needed to support growth responsibly?

3. Bring WSB Disciplines Together Around One Growth Strategy

Comprehensive planning works best as an integrated process. WSB can align planning, engineering, transportation, water resources, environmental, parks, landscape architecture, engagement, economic development, redevelopment, funding, and development services around shared growth assumptions and priorities.

• Planning and engagement connect vision, land use, housing, and policy.
• Engineering, transportation, water, environmental, parks, and landscape specialists test capacity, access, resilience, and place quality.
• Economic development, redevelopment, funding, and development services position priority areas for investment.

4. Align Regulations and Development Processes with the Plan

After adoption, communities should align zoning, subdivision regulations, development standards, and review procedures with the plan’s intended development pattern and implementation priorities.

• Districts do not allow planned uses, densities, forms, or mixed-use patterns.
• Standards or procedures inhibit infill, redevelopment, housing choice, predictability, or current goals.
• New tools are needed for overlays, planned development, form-based design, or flexible redevelopment.

5. Use Economic Development Tools to Advance Priority Growth Areas

By identifying priority sites, infrastructure needs, market opportunities, and desired outcomes, the plan helps a community focus resources, guide private investment, and communicate where it is prepared to partner.

• Local incentives, grants, infrastructure funding, cleanup resources, and loan programs.
• Land assembly, site preparation, redevelopment authority, partnerships, and development agreements.
• Business retention, workforce partnerships, targeted industries, marketing, and site-readiness guidance.

6. Create an Actionable Roadmap

The plan should end with a realistic implementation program that sequences actions, assigns responsibility, connects funding and capital investment, and measures progress.

• Prioritize near-, mid-, and long-term actions by urgency, resources, and readiness.
• Assign responsibilities and link growth areas to capital plans, infrastructure, ordinances, funding, and development initiatives.
• Establish milestones, monitor progress, and update the program as conditions change.

From vision to investment

Future-ready planning requires community ownership, coordinated analysis, aligned regulations, strategic investment, and practical implementation. WSB brings these elements together so the comprehensive plan becomes a durable framework for sustainable growth and long-term success.

Floodplain Buyouts: A Proactive Approach to Community Resilience

September 11, 2026

By Allison Whitsitt, Director of Emergency Management and Audrey Fincannon, Area Manager, ROW, WSB

Flooding continues to impact communities across the country, causing repeated property damage, straining local resources, and increasing recovery costs. For cities and counties facing recurring flood events, voluntary buyout programs can provide a long-term solution that reduces risk while improving community resilience. These programs allow property owners in high-risk flood areas to relocate to safer locations, helping communities protect residents, reduce future flood losses, and support long term planning efforts.

While buyout programs are often misunderstood, they are designed to benefit both property owners and communities. Participating property owners receive fair market value for their property and, in some cases, additional relocation assistance through available funding programs. Once acquired, properties are removed from the floodplain and converted into permanent open space, creating opportunities for parks, trails, green space, and other community amenities that are less vulnerable to future flooding. This approach not only reduces future flood damage but also creates lasting value for the community.

One of the greatest challenges communities face is finding the funding and staff capacity needed to move a buyout program forward. Significant grant funding is available through federal and state programs, but navigating eligibility requirements, application processes, matching fund requirements, and compliance obligations can be overwhelming. Many communities simply do not have the time or resources to manage these efforts internally, resulting in valuable funding being left on the table. Developing a strategy before the next flood event can help communities position themselves to secure funding and advance projects when opportunities arise.

WSB helps communities navigate these complexities from start to finish. We begin by evaluating flood risks, identifying available funding sources, and developing a strategy that aligns with community goals and priorities. From there, our multidisciplinary team supports grant applications, community engagement, property acquisition and relocation services, engineering analysis, and program implementation. By bringing these services together under one team, we help reduce the burden on community staff, simplify complex requirements, and keep projects moving forward from planning through completion.

Floodplain buyouts are about more than reducing flood risk. They are an opportunity to protect residents, lower long term costs, and create meaningful community assets for future generations. WSB partners with cities and counties to evaluate options, secure funding, and implement practical solutions that transform flood prone areas into safer, more resilient spaces. Whether a community is exploring buyouts for the first time or planning its next flood mitigation initiative, WSB provides the expertise and support needed to move from planning to successful implementation. Contact WSB to learn how to develop a buyout program that reduces risk, secures funding, and strengthens your community’s resilience.

Aging Infrastructure: Making Every Capital Dollar Count

September 8, 2026

By Eric Eckman, Senior Project Manager I, WSB

From roads and bridges to water and sewer systems, cities and counties are managing an increasing number of aging assets while facing growing demands on limited capital budgets. At the same time, community expectations for safety, reliability, and resilience continue to increase. The challenge facing local agencies is not simply identifying infrastructure that needs attention. The real challenge is determining which investments will deliver the greatest benefit when capital dollars are limited. Successfully addressing this challenge requires an approach that balances infrastructure condition, risk, public safety, service reliability, and long-term financial sustainability.

Effective capital planning begins with understanding the current state of infrastructure and how assets perform over time. Engineering assessments, asset inventories, condition ratings, and lifecycle analysis provide the information needed to make informed investment decisions. Rather than relying on condition alone, leading agencies evaluate infrastructure through a broader lens that includes risk, criticality, public safety, and service reliability. By evaluating both the likelihood of failure and the consequences of failure, communities can identify which assets present the greatest operational, financial, and public safety risks and prioritize funding where it will have the greatest impact.

There is no one size fits all solution to prioritize capital investments. Every community faces different challenges, funding constraints, and infrastructure needs. When evaluating projects, agencies should consider asset conditions, criticality, regulatory requirements, available funding opportunities, future growth, and community goals. Value engineering, constructability reviews, and strategic planning can help identify cost saving opportunities, improve project feasibility, and maximize available resources. Taking a comprehensive approach to project selection allows communities to make informed decisions and address infrastructure needs before they become larger, more costly challenges.

As communities work to stretch limited budgets, it is important to carefully evaluate rehabilitation and replacement options. In some cases, targeted improvements can extend an asset’s useful life and defer major expenditures. In others, replacement may provide greater long-term value by reducing maintenance costs, improving reliability, and supporting regulatory compliance. Lifecycle cost analysis helps agencies compare alternatives based on long-term performance rather than upfront construction costs alone, ensuring investments support both current needs and future infrastructure demands.

WSB partners with cities and counties to develop practical, data driven strategies for managing aging infrastructure and maximizing the value of every capital dollar. Our team helps clients assess infrastructure conditions, establish asset management programs, evaluate system vulnerabilities, develop capital improvement plans, perform lifecycle modeling, and identify funding opportunities that support long-term success. By combining engineering expertise, advanced technology, and strategic planning, WSB helps communities prioritize investments, strengthen infrastructure performance, and support long-term financial sustainability. Contact WSB to learn how a proactive approach to asset management and capital planning can help your community make informed investment decisions and maximize the impact of every infrastructure dollar.

Water Resilience: Building Communities Prepared for a Changing Environment

September 2, 2026

By Jesse Penn, Senior Director, W/WW & Water Resources, WSB

Water has always been essential to community growth, but today’s challenges are reshaping how cities and counties approach water management. Across the country, extreme heat and drought are placing greater demands on drinking water supplies, while severe storms and flooding are testing the capacity of aging infrastructure. These changing conditions are reinforcing the need for resilient water systems that not only meet today’s demands but also prepare communities for future uncertainty. Successfully addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach that considers water supply, wastewater, and stormwater as interconnected parts of the same system.

Effective water management begins with understanding how water moves through a community and how infrastructure performs under both everyday conditions and extreme events. Engineers work closely with public works departments, utility operators, planners, and community leaders to evaluate existing systems, identify risks, and develop long term strategies. By assessing infrastructure conditions, operational demands, regulatory requirements, and future growth projections, communities can make informed decisions that support reliability, sustainability, and responsible investment.

As communities seek to strengthen resilience, a variety of solutions can help address water related challenges. Water conservation programs, leak detection efforts, water audits, pressure management, and water reuse initiatives can help maximize available resources during periods of drought and high demand. At the same time, stormwater solutions such as storm ponds, drainage improvements, underground storage systems, and permeable pavement can help reduce flood risk, improve water quality, and protect critical infrastructure during increasingly intense rainfall events. Taking a proactive approach allows communities to address challenges before they become emergencies, reducing long term costs while improving system performance and reliability.

There is no one size fits all solution to water resilience. Every community faces different challenges, priorities, and resource constraints. When evaluating potential solutions, it is important to consider infrastructure age and condition, maintenance requirements, available funding, future development, regulatory obligations, and the potential impacts of changing weather patterns. A valuable first step is understanding how existing systems will perform under future conditions, allowing communities to identify vulnerabilities, prioritize investments, and proactively address issues before they become costly emergencies. The most successful strategies balance immediate needs with long term goals, ensuring infrastructure investments deliver lasting value for residents and taxpayers alike.

WSB partners with cities, counties, and utility providers to develop practical, forward thinking water infrastructure solutions. Our team evaluates system performance, identifies opportunities for improvement, and helps communities plan for both immediate needs and long term growth. We also help communities navigate local development processes and assess project impacts, supporting informed decision making, operational effectiveness, and the responsible use of public dollars. From water supply and wastewater systems to stormwater management and flood mitigation, WSB delivers engineering solutions that strengthen infrastructure, protect public investments, and help communities become more resilient in an ever changing environment.

FHWA PROTECT Grant Funding Is Back: What Communities Need to Know 

August 31, 2026

By Amber Adams, Grants & Funding Program Manager, WSB

Transportation networks are increasingly being challenged by flooding, extreme weather, heat events and other natural hazards. As communities plan for the future, resiliency is becoming an essential part of transportation investment decisions. 

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has reopened the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Program, creating a significant opportunity for states, local governments, MPOs, Tribal nations, transit agencies and port authorities to pursue funding for resilience-focused transportation projects. The current Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) makes up to $787 million available through the program. 

What Is the PROTECT Program? 

The PROTECT Competitive Grant Program provides funding through four distinct categories: 

• Planning Grants for resilience planning, vulnerability assessments, evacuation planning, resilience improvement plans, and data tools. 

• Resilience Improvement Grants for projects that improve the resilience and reliability of transportation infrastructure. 

• Community Resilience & Evacuation Route Grants for projects that strengthen emergency access and evacuation capabilities. 

• At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure Grants for vulnerable transportation assets located in coastal communities. 

Together, these funding categories support projects that help transportation systems withstand, respond to, and recover from natural hazards and extreme weather events. 

Funding may support projects that: 

• Improve transportation system resilience 

• Address vulnerabilities related to flooding, extreme weather and climate impacts 

• Strengthen evacuation routes and emergency access 

• Protect critical transportation assets 

• Support resilience planning and implementation efforts 

The goal is to help communities proactively reduce risk and improve recovery capabilities before disruptions occur. 

Why This Matters Now 

The strongest funding pursuits often begin before an application is assembled. 

Communities that have already identified infrastructure vulnerabilities, resilience priorities and long-term transportation goals are often better positioned to develop projects aligned with funding opportunities. Whether addressing roadway flooding, bridge resiliency, emergency access, asset management or network reliability, early coordination can help agencies understand potential pathways forward. 

Start Conversations Early 

With the program open again, now is the time for transportation agencies and community leaders to evaluate potential projects and determine where resilience investments may align with local priorities. 

Communities interested in pursuing PROTECT funding should review the current NOFO and begin identifying opportunities that strengthen transportation systems while supporting long-term resilience goals. 

Need help evaluating a potential PROTECT project?  

WSB’s transportation, resilience, planning, engineering, environmental, emergency management, and grants professionals can help communities: 

• Evaluate project eligibility 

• Identify the most appropriate funding category 

• Conduct vulnerability and resilience assessments 

• Develop benefit-cost analyses 

• Advance planning and project development efforts 

Position projects for a competitive application