Take a look around the neighborhood and if the sidewalks, roads or other traffic infrastructure are in dire need of repair, there may be a solution in the form of an application to the city due on Dec. 17.

As part of the Bridging the Gap transportation levy passed by Seattle voters in 2006, the city has $4.5 million to spend on neighborhood street projects until 2015.

As Seattle’s Department of Transportation describes is, “The Neighborhood Street Fund Program pays for neighborhood transportation projects which are identified and prioritized by the community itself … projects will be considered if they are large, but not too large ($100,000 - $750,000), related to transportation, entirely on existing public right-of-way and have the support of their local neighborhood District Council.”

To give you an idea on the odds, 17 of the 152 proposed projects in 2007 were funded and built, according to SDOT.

In West Seattle, projects funded since 2007 include filling sidewalk gaps along Alki Ave S.W. from just west of Alki Beach to Beach Dr. S.W., 30th Ave S.W. sidewalk improvements, revitalization of 25th Ave S.W. between Brandon and Findlay streets (new sidewalks, curbs, rain gardens and street trees in planting strips), and repairs/improvements on California Ave S.W. at several cross streets.

To apply for the Neighborhood Street Fund Program, visit SDOT’s website at http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/btg_nsf_large.htm.