NCS – Learn How to Apply

All County-owned, non-arterial streets in residential areas are eligible for consideration. If you’re unsure if your street is a neighborhood street, check this map. Project nominations may be made by individuals, homeowner associations, civic organizations or by County staff.

Please limit your nominations to the most problematic areas. Each location requires a separate application.

Only County staff will rank projects. Projects will be ranked based on the adopted Project Ranking Guidelines. Additional considerations used to evaluate and recommend projects include:

• Available funding and estimated project costs
• Available resources and tools
• Availability and likelihood of funding for improvements under other County programs (e.g., maintenance or Safe Routes to School)
• Other considerations that could impact the project (e.g., overlapping County projects or adjacent private development pending)

Note that “any project not approved through the Neighborhood Conservation (NC) program process or was withdrawn may be disqualified for consideration by the Neighborhood Complete Streets Commission (NCSC) for four years after the date of such disapproval or withdrawal. For this purpose, any project disqualified from consideration by the NCSC must contain at least 50% of the scope (as defined in dollars) of the disapproved or withdrawn NC project.”

Staff will provide recommendations to the Neighborhood Complete Streets Commission (NCSC) which will select projects to move forward for further study and development. The NCSC may defer projects that prove unfeasible or untimely for funding approval until later in the process or for later consideration.

Staff begins to scope potential solutions to the problem street locations selected for further review. This process includes feasibility and public engagement and results in a preliminary design and cost estimate.

The Neighborhood Complete Streets Commission will consider projects presented by staff for recommendation to the County Board for funding and implementation. Projects that involve only tactical measures (striping, signage, flexible posts, etc.) do not need approval of the County Board.

Staff and representatives of the Neighborhood Complete Streets Commission present the capital projects recommended by the commission at their Funding Hearing for consideration by the County Board. Projects approved by the County Board will advance to detailed design and implementation.