DOT 04-09
Friday, January 9, 2009
Contact: Sarah Echols
Tel.: (202) 366-4570
U.S. Department of Transportation Provides $2 Million in Immediate Emergency
Relief for Flood-Damaged Washington Roads
SEATTLE, WA – U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters today announced
that the federal government is making $2 million available immediately to help
cover the cost of repairing flood-damaged roads in Washington state.
“Opening the more than 65 state highways that were closed because of the rain
will be tough. Fixing these drowned roads shouldn’t be held up in a flood of red
tape,” Secretary Peters said.
The announcement was made during a visit to Washington state with Governor
Christine Gregoire, Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and other federal,
state and local leaders. They viewed Washington’s flooded areas and received a
briefing from Washington Department of Transportation officials on the extent of
damage.
“This is an immediate boost for recovery efforts that are already underway,”
said Senator Murray, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Appropriations
Committee. “This funding will help to get debris cleared and get our roads and
highways up and running again. It is also the first step in bringing additional
federal resources back to Washington state to assist communities in the recovery
process. Critical emergencies like this are exactly why I fought to include
Emergency Relief Funding in the annual transportation budget.”
The quick-release funds, which do not require a local match like most
federal-aid, are a down payment on future funding which will be made available
once the state has completed damage assessments and repair costs are more fully
known, Secretary Peters said. Specific locations along the damaged roads
targeted for the emergency funds have not yet been identified, she added.
The state can use the funding made available today to pay for clean-up and
recovery work, including clearing debris and re-routing traffic, as well as for
new construction to replace damaged sections of highway.
###