Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced today that millions of dollars in transportation priorities are included in the final version of a fiscal year 2006 spending bill that appropriates funds for several agencies including the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I continuously work to ensure federal funding for Northwest transportation priorities,” Larsen said. 

Larsen praised U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) for her efforts in securing the funding, as well.

“Senator Murray is a transportation champion for Washington state,” Larsen said. “I appreciate her partnership in the Senate to make sure Washington gets its fair share when it comes to federal support for transportation priorities.”

Descriptions of transportation projects in the bill:
 
Island County

$480,000 for Island Transit
The funding provided will enable Island Transit to purchase 12 new vehicles to support rural mobility needs.

Skagit County

$300,000 for the Skagit Transit Transfer Station Project at the Chuckanut Drive/Interstate 5 Interchange in Burlington, Washington
These funds are for a transfer station which will enable Skagit Transit (SKAT) to improve transit coverage and connections, not only within Skagit County, but also through a partnership with adjoining transit agencies in Whatcom and Island counties.  The facility will serve as a regional transit hub, allowing seamless connectivity throughout northwest Washington.

$425,000 for Skagit Transit
Skagit Transit is preparing for the expected influx of northbound travelers to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. Three phases of a regional transit project will help the North Sound region meet the higher demand. The funding provided will help Skagit Transit purchase new buses.

$200,000 for City of Mount Vernon Transit and Redevelopment Study
These funds will assist the City of Mount Vernon in developing a master plan for redevelopment of Old Downtown including transit, road, pedestrian, and waterfront improvements.

$200,000 for Town of Hamilton Relocation in Hamilton, Washington
Nearly every year for the past 15, Hamilton has been flooded.  In order to help these residents, who have been victims of recurring floods, move out of their flood-damaged housing, local, state and federal agencies have identified a way to move the residents to high ground.  Hamilton has proposed to create a 250-unit planned residential development with all infrastructures on the land to be annexed by the town.  Larsen has visited the residents of Hamilton and is committed to helping them do so.

Snohomish County

$825,000 for Everett Transit Buses and Paratransit Vehicles
These funds will help the City of Everett to replace four fully depreciated transit buses, and replace four paratransit vehicles.  Everett Transit is working to meet the needs of its customers and needs these new vehicles to meet passenger demand.

$3.5 million for Paine Field Kilo One Taxiway Improvements
The funding secured in this bill will allow Paine Field to upgrade the Kilo One Taxiway to accommodate 747-sized aircraft.  These improvements will support new aviation business development and connect the taxiway with the new Future of Flight Museum.

Whatcom County

$500,000 for the Bellingham Waterfront Redevelopment Project
The funding will assist the Port of Bellingham and City of Bellingham in their efforts to redevelop the former Georgia Pacific site along the waterfront. Specifically, the funding will support track relocations throughout the project area. In a bill signed into law during August, Larsen helped secure $9.78 million for similar transportation improvements. 

$3 million for the Interstate-5/Blaine Exit Interchange Border Crossing Improvements
This project will provide improvements to I-5 south of the U.S./Canada border and rebuild the current Blaine interchange (exit 276) south of its current location to mitigate the expansion of the Peace Arch Port of Entry Border facility, which will impact access to the City of Blaine. The Blaine border crossing is the third busiest northern border crossing in the United States.  The General Services Administration (GSA) is currently developing a new border facility that will require a new northbound I-5 on-ramp and southbound I-5 off-ramp in order to accommodate the facility and the border congestions needs.

In addition, the president requested in his fiscal year 2006 budget and secured in the bill $46.5 million for the Blaine Peace Arch Border Station which GSA is expanding. This funding will help complete the new border station, scheduled to be completed by the 2010 Olympics. It will allow for more efficient crossings between the U.S. and Canada and increased border security.

Larsen serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.