The Washington State Department of Commerce has awarded $2.4 million in Transit-Oriented Development Implementation (TODI) grants to 11 communities to review zoning areas served by current or forthcoming high-frequency bus service and light-rail transit.

The grants are an “absolute necessity” for solving the housing crisis, according to a report by Seattle King County REALTORS® (SKCR).

The grants will allow communities extra time to study the environmental impacts of planned development to streamline permit-processing times, the release noted. The resulting transit-oriented development will increase housing supply to respond to population growth while minimizing traffic and costly sprawling development.

Grants were awarded to Auburn, Lynnwood, Seattle, Bothell, Olympia, Spokane, Burien, Renton, Tacoma, Fife and Redmond. Each city received the maximum of $250,000, with the exception of Fife ($95,000) and Bothell ($80,000).