U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Shoreline, has secured millions of dollars in federal funding for several local transportation projects in the 2004 Senate Transportation, Treasury and General Government spending bill.
The $243 million spending bill, which passed the full Senate in late October, includes $149 million for such Puget Sound priorities as road construction, buses, airports, trails and transit facilities across the state. Projects in Shoreline, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds and Everett will benefit, among others.
The funding for Washington state, included by Murray in her role as ranking Democrat on the Transportation Subcommittee, is in addition to the formula funding the state receives annually from the federal government. In fiscal year 2004, the state will receive $543 million in Federal Highway Administration grants and $102 million in Federal Transit Administration grant funding.
“I am proud to announce this important funding for transportation projects across Washington state,” Murray said. “At a time when both state and federal budgets are stretched thin, these dollars will go a long way to providing good paying construction jobs today and attracting new business for future growth. I will continue to stand up for our state and work to invest in valuable infrastructure at home while we honor our commitments abroad.”
Here’s how local projects will benefit:
• Sound Transit, Link Light Rail, $75 million – Sound Transit is proposing to build a 14-mile light rail system through downtown Seattle to the city of SeaTac. This is the first phase of a multistage, multimodal project. This project is near completion of signing a revised full funding grant agreement with FTA for $500 million. Murray secured $75 million for this project in previous appropriations.
• I-405 congestion relief project, $2.5 million – This project will help fund efforts to provide congestion relief, such as: transportation management associations; work options; land use; commute trip reduction programs; and provide for park and ride assistance.
• Sound Transit, Regional Express transit hubs, $2 million – This project will provide further improvements to several transit hubs feeding the Sound Transit system. These hubs are located in South Everett, Kirkland, Issaquah, Federal Way and Lakewood. Murray secured $4 million for this project in previous appropriations.
• King County, countywide signal program, $1.5 million – This project will help implement signal synchronization, signal enhancements and intelligent transportation system applications along high priority corridors in King County. This project is meant to help reduce congestion, reduce commutes, improve freight mobility, increase transit efficiency, reduce fuel consumption, and enhance public safety.
• King County, Metro Clean Air Buses, $5 million – This project will help purchase 25 new hybrid clean air buses to replace outdated dual-powered diesel buses.
• Everett, Air Traffic Control Tower, $2 million – This funding will help Paine Field making improvements to their Air Traffic Control Tower. Murray secured $925,000 in funding for this project in previous appropriations.
• Everett, BNSF Railroad Track Relocation, $500,000 – This project involves the relocation and upgrade of certain railroad tracks in the vicinity of the city of Everett’s 41st Street Overcrossing Project. Murray secured $3.7 million for this project in previous appropriations.
• Edmonds Crossing Multimodal Transportation Terminal, $2 million – This project will provide for the second phase of the Edmonds Crossing Multimodal Transportation Terminal. When completed this project will improve opportunities for connecting various forms of travel, including rail, ferry, bus, bicycle, walking and rideshare. Murray secured $4 million for this project in previous appropriations.
• Interstate 5, Lynnwood City Center exit, $1 million – This funding will help construct a new off ramp from I-5 southbound to the intersection of Alderwood Mall Parkway and Alderwood Mall Boulevard. It will allow for more direct access to the city of Lynnwood, the city center area, the new convention center, Sound Transit Regional Transit Center; and Alderwood Mall.
• Everett, bus replacement project, $1 million – This project will help purchase two heavy duty and five medium duty transit buses that are high-quality, ADA-compliant replacement transit vehicles. Murray secured $2.225 million for this project in previous appropriations.
• Community Transit Park and Ride Lot Expansion Program, $2 million – This project will help increase the park and ride lot at Mountlake Terrace Park and Ride at I-5 and 236th by 400 spaces. Murray secured $7.25 million for park and ride expansion for Community Transit in previous appropriations.
• Community Transit Bus and Van Replacement, $1 million – This project will help Community Transit with their aggressive and comprehensive bus and van replacement project.
• Mukilteo Multimodal Terminal, $1 million – This project will help supplement existing state funds to improve and expand the Mukilteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal.
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