(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray, ranking member of the Senate Transportation, Treasury, and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, has secured millions of dollars in federal funding for Northwest Washington’s transportation priorities. The funding will address critical infrastructure needs throughout the region including roads, buses, trails and transit facilities.
The full Senate Appropriations Committee approved the bill earlier today.
The funding, which Murray earmarked specifically for Northwest Washington, is in addition to the formula funding the state receives annually from the federal government. In 2004, the state will get $542,767,926 in Federal Highway Administration grant funding and $101,731,719 in Federal Transit Administration grant funding.
“I am proud to have helped secure these critical federal dollars for transportation projects throughout Northwest Washington. By investing in our transportation infrastructure, we are creating good-paying construction jobs today and paving the way for future economic growth,” Senator Murray said. “Our region is facing tough times and these dollars will help improve our quality of life and increase economic prosperity.”
NORTHWEST WASHINGTON PROJECTS
Bellingham, San Juan Boulevard ($1.225 million) – This project will help construct a two-lane arterial street with bicycle lanes and mass transit facilities from the south side of Bellingham to I-5.
Bellingham, Coast Millennium Trail – South Bay Taylor Dock Project ($500,000) – This project will help complete a key .34 mile segment of the regional Coast Millennium Trail, which is planned to extend from Skagit County into British Columbia. It specifically provides a missing link in the City of Bellingham’s existing South Bay Trail, connecting downtown with Fairhaven.
I-5 Second Street Bridge, Mt. Vernon ($3 million) – Currently this bridge does not meet vertical clearance design standards, leading to oversize trucks hitting the structure. This project will provide economic and safety benefits by allowing oversize trucks to use this section of I-5 by bringing vertical clearance up to design standards. Congestion Mitigation benefits will be provided for local traffic by adding the third lane on the undercrossing. This project is also designed for future widening of I-5 to address congestion.
Swift Siding Rail Project, Blaine, WA ($3 million) – This project will provide a separate siding at the Blaine U.S./Canada Border Crossing that will allow BNSF and Amtrak Cascades trains to be inspected without restricting the main line to access from other freight and passenger rail trains.
Skagit County, 3-Bridge Corridor Project ($800,000) – This project will help construct improvements to the three bridges that span the Skagit River. These bridges are currently at risk of flood damage from the Skagit River. If one or more of these bridges were to fail, commuter and freight traffic in the region would be severely impacted.
WA Small Bus System Program of Projects – Island Transit ($1.094 million) – This group of projects helps provide bus replacement and needed equipment to several smaller transit agencies in the state of Washington. Senator Murray secured $8.89 million for this statewide group of Small Bus System of Projects in the past.
Non-Transportation Requests
General Services Administration – Border Station ($9.812 million) – These resources will be used to construct a new border station at the Canadian/U.S. Border at Blaine, WA.
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