WASHINGTON — Seattle’s plan to reduce traffic by charging tolls to drivers on the new State Route 520 floating bridge across Lake Washington will get a major boost from the federal government, which has agreed to help fund the project, congressional aides said Tuesday.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters planned to announce $138.7 million for the Seattle project later Tuesday. Officials said the grant would be dependent on state officials including a toll for the bridge crossing.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said the bridge project should reduce congestion in the region.
“As we have seen recently, there is a critical need to invest in our nation’s infrastructure and protect those who rely on the safety of our roads and bridges,” said Murray, chairwoman of the Senate Transportation Appropriations subcommittee.
“This funding will help protect our region’s commuters and reduce the traffic congestion that keeps families apart,” Murray said.
The DOT has been considering which five out of nine cities would receive a major infusion of cash for local traffic reduction plans.
New York City’s plan to reduce traffic by charging tolls to drivers entering the busiest part of Manhattan was the first project to be approved, Peters said Tuesday.
Also competing for federal aid was Minneapolis, where divers are still trying to find the remains of four missing motorists after a catastrophic bridge collapse. Nine people are already confirmed dead in the Aug. 1 collapse.
Other cities seeking funding were Atlanta, Denver, San Francisco, San Diego, Miami, and Chicago.
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire has asked Washington’s bridge inspectors for a quick report on the state’s 3,000 bridges, in response to the deadly bridge collapse in Minneapolis.
Gregoire and the Legislature are particularly worried about the potential collapse of two high-traffic spans in the Seattle area: the floating bridge and the Alaskan Way Viaduct along the Elliott Bay waterfront. The Legislature has appropriated early spending for the projects, but design and full financing still are question marks.
Lawmakers say tolls are likely to be a major part of the new floating bridge and other mega-projects in the state.
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