Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced that the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed its six-year, $284 billion surface transportation package that replaces the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). The new bill doubles ferry funding as proposed by Larsen and includes money he pushed for in order to address congestion relief, safety on rural roads, and billions to help states like Washington with freight mobility and border needs. A list of 2nd District projects is included at the bottom of this release.

“This bill lays out the framework for the next six years of federal transportation funding,” Larsen noted. “As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I will keep pushing to make sure that the final version of this critical bill includes Washington state priorities.” 

Last year’s version of the transportation authorization bill, that did not pass before Congress adjourned, contained Larsen’s proposal to sizably increase ferry funding. The committee incorporated Larsen’s ferry funding proposal in its larger federal transportation bill last year and again in the bill it passed today. The previous bill, TEA-21, authorized $220 million over six years for ferries. If the provision is included in the final version of the bill, it will authorize $430 million for fiscal years 2004 through 2009 for the nation’s ferry systems.

In addition to ferry funding, the bill includes other provisions that if passed would benefit Washington state.

“I will keep pushing for quick action on this critical bill until we make these projects a reality in Northwest Washington,” Larsen said. “Our communities are depending on us to help them improve the safety of our transportation system, increase business productivity, and create jobs.”

Larsen serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. TEA-21 was set to expire on September 30, 2003 but Congress extended it and failed to reauthorize the bill last year. The new bill, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEA LU) reauthorizes the federal highway, public transportation, highway safety, and motor carrier safety programs for six years, from fiscal years 2004 through 2009. It provides $284 billion in guaranteed funding.

Projects of Statewide Significance
· $430 million for fiscal years 2004 through 2009 for the nation’s ferry systems, Washington State: The previous bill, TEA-21, authorized $220 million over six years for ferries.

· $500,000 for the West Coast Corridor Coalition, Washington State: Funds will allow the West Coast Corridor project to identify and advocate policies, strategies, projects, and funding to improve the movement of freight and goods through, from, and within the West Coast transportation system, and to mitigate the congestion and community impacts that arise from freight movement.

Island County
· $1.2 million for New County Road, Whidbey Island, WA: This funding, added to dedicated county funds, will provide an alternate route for SR 525 through an area of Whidbey Island where the state highway provides the only transportation connection from North to South Whidbey.
· $2.4 million for Island Transit Capital Improvements, Coupeville, WA: The funding will help Island County replace its grossly inadequate and failing operations facility in Coupeville, WA.
· $1.4 million for Terry’s Corner Park and Ride, Camano Island/Stanwood, WA: This funding will complete the final buildout of an additional 220 parking units and make improvements to Sunrise Boulevard and North Camano Drive which will provide direct access to the facility.
· $1 million for the Oak Harbor Multimodal Facility, Oak Harbor, WA: This funding will augment and relieve congestions on the island’s single state highway by adding alternative modes of transportation. The transportation facility will benefit transit, pedestrian and seaplane passengers.

San Juan County
· $800,000 for the Guard Street Reconstruction Project in Friday Harbor, WA: Funds will be used for road reconstruction and sidewalk improvements to Guard Street from Marguerite Place to Park Street.  The improvements include construction of sidewalk on both sides of the street, storm drainage improvements to the road, and changes to the alignment of a horizontal curve to make the road safer.

Skagit County
· $175,000 for College Way (SR 538) and North 26th Street Signal, Mount Vernon, WA: Funds will help install a signal at the College Way (SR 538) and North 26th Street intersection. This signal will provide access to Skagit Valley Community College and the new Performing Arts Center and ease congestion on College Way.
· $4 million for Roosevelt Extension/College Way (SR 538) at Urban Avenue to Cameron Way, Mount Vernon, WA: This funding would help construct a new arterial that would start at the intersection of Cameron Way and City Shop Road, cross Riverside Drive and end at College Way (SR 538). The project will increase access to commercial areas and reduce congestion on College Way.
· $4 million for Bridge Modification and Interstate Highway Protection Project (Skagit River), Skagit County, WA: The funding will help Skagit County move forward with flood mitigation efforts that require bridge extensions over a portion of the Skagit River.
· $1 million for North Sound Connecting Communities Project Planning Funds, Skagit County, WA: The NSCC project is a coalition of elected, agency and citizen representatives from the five north Sound counties (Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan, Snohomish). Together they will work on regional planning issues, ensuring that county transit and transportation system work together to provide options and access to residents in the region.

Snohomish County
· $3 million for Community Transit’s Bus Purchases and Facilities Enhancements: Larsen worked with Rep. Jay Inslee to secure these funds to help CT purchase buses and expand facilities.
· $1 million for SR 9 and 20th Street SE Intersection Reconstruction, Snohomish County, WA: This funding will relieve congestion and improve safety at the intersection and help with the ongoing redevelopment of SR 9 into a five-lane highway.
· $100,000 for 5th Street/U.S. 2 Signalization Improvements, Sultan, WA: This funding will provide for signalization at the intersection of U.S. 2 and 5th Street in Sultan, WA.  The signal is needed to allow access in and out of Sultan and increase safety along U.S. 2.
· $600,000 for Sultan Basin Road/US 2 Improvements, Sultan, WA: This funding will help provide for major upgrades at the intersection of U.S. 2 and Sultan Basin Road, including a new signal and a dedicated left-hand turn lane. The improvements are needed to provide better access to Sultan Basin Road and increase safety along U.S. 2.
· $2.6 million for 41st Street Interchange, Everett, WA: The project will widen the 41st Street bridge over I-5 from three lanes to five and provide better access on and off I-5.
· $3.5 million for East Marine View Drive Widening, Everett, WA: The funding will complete the widening of East Marine View Drive between I-5 and SR 529.  The project will ease congestion and increase freight mobility into and out of the Port of Everett.
· $1 million for the Centennial Trail Project, Snohomish, WA: This funding completes the Centennial Trail into the city of Snohomish.  The trail provides a safe alternative transportation route and currently runs between Lake Stevens and the edge of Snohomish.
· $175,000 for the Pedestrian Sidewalk Construction, Snohomish, WA: This project will construct and enhance sidewalks in Snohomish in order to increase safety, reduce congestion, and increase economic development in Snohomish.
· $480,000 for U.S 2/Old Owen Road Intersection, Monroe, WA: This funding will help reconfigure the intersection and provide a dedicated right turn lane from East Main Street to eastbound U.S. 2.  It will help increase access and safety along U.S. 2 in downtown Monroe.
· $1.04 million for U.S. 2/Kelsey Street Intersection Improvements, Monroe, WA: Funding will help the city of Monroe develop and construct a left hand turn lane onto Kelsey Street from U.S. 2.  This will increase accessibility for businesses in Monroe to traffic and increase safety along U.S. 2. 
· $2.93 million for Granite Falls Alternate Freight Route, Granite Falls, WA: These funds will continue to help develop and construct an alternate route for trucks to take around the city of Granite Falls. Currently, quarry and logging trucks are forced to drive through downtown Granite Falls to access western Snohomish County and I-5.  This project will decrease delays caused by truck traffic and keep commercial traffic off the downtown roads.
· $5.8 million for the Mukilteo Multimodal Terminal, Mukilteo, WA: Larsen and Rep. Jay Inslee combined their efforts to secure the funds that will complete the Mukilteo multimodal facility that will create a transportation facility for ferry, bus, rail and car passengers.  The outdated ferry terminal alone supports 4.2 million passengers and 2.3 million vehicles a year. An expanded Sounder rail stop, transit center and new terminal would ease congestion and give residents of Island and Snohomish Counties real transportation options.
· $800,000 to Construct the SR 9 Pedestrian Overpass, Arlington, WA: Funds will construct a pedestrian overpass on highway 9.  This overpass will allow students and community members to access two new public schools without crossing a busy state highway. 
· $400,000 for the 267th Street NW Pedestrian Path, Stanwood, WA: Funds will help construct sidewalks to increase pedestrian safety near Port Susan Middle School. 
· $1 million for the 116th Street I-5 Interchange Reconstruction, Marysville, WA: Funds will help improve 116th Street Interchange. These improvements are necessary to better commuter and freight mobility and prepare the region for growth.

Whatcom County
· $1.1 million for Cascade Gateway Coordination of Binational Planning: The
International Mobility and Trade Corridor Project, Whatcom County, WA: Will fund efforts for Whatcom County to identify and promote improvements to the transportation and inspection systems between Washington state and British Columbia.
· $2.5 million for the Port of Bellingham Redevelopment Project in Bellingham, WA: Help fund street and pedestrian improvements that are part of the Bellingham waterfront redevelopment.
· $2.5 million for Border Crossing Improvements at Pacific Highway (SR 543/I-5), Blaine, WA: This funding will help construct an alternative route from I-5 to the border to relieve congestion along the Pacific Highway Truck Crossing (SR 543) and I-5 in Blaine and allow for better transborder freight mobility. As the fourth busiest border crossing on the Northern Border, assisting over 3,000 trucks each day and $15 billion in goods annually, this crossing has witnessed trucks backed up several miles on I-5 resulting in major congestion and safety concerns.
 

Next, the bill must be passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate is working on its own version of the bill. The House and Senate will need to eventually draft and pass a conference agreement that will go to the president.