SEATTLE—On February 27, the Puget Sound Regional Council's Executive Board directed $12.1 million in federal transportation funds to state and local projects in the central Puget Sound region. The funds were identified through cost savings in projects previously funded by the Regional Council.
"Our action today keeps priority state, regional and local projects moving forward. All of these projects are ready to go and will help address some of the most pressing transportation needs in our region," said Councilmember Richard McIver, Regional Council President.
Most of the projects receiving funding were previously targeted for funding from Referendum 51, which was defeated by voters. The projects were in jeopardy without additional funds.
King County
$1.2 million - I-405 corridor program
$1.2 million - Alaskan Way Viaduct
$1 million - Trans-Lake Washington (520) program
$800,000 - Highway 509 project
$400,000 - Highway 167 study (Kent-Edgewood)
$745,563 - SR-167 HOV/SW 27th St HOV/Strander Blvd Connection (Renton)
$722,323 - 156th Avenue NE - NE 8th Street to Northup Way (Bellevue)
$170,950 - Overlay for NE 195th Street and 120th Ave. NE (Bothell)
$332,600 - 116th Avenue NE Overlay (Bellevue)
$655,343 - Northgate Transit System Management (TSM) Improvements (Seattle)
$100,000 - Aurora Transit Express (Seattle)
Pierce County
$2.1 million - "D" Street Overpass
Snohomish County
$1.3 million - I-5 HOV lanes
$400,000 - 148th Street SW in Lynnwood
$159,000 - Sultan Highway 2/5th Street Traffic Signal
Kitsap County
$422,000 - Kitsap passenger-only ferry plan
$212,000 - West Kingston Road
$148,000 - High School Road Preservation and bike and pedestrian improvements.
The Executive Board action includes a caveat that if these funds are not obligated by June 1, 2003, remaining funds will be offered to the "D" Street Overpass in Pierce County. If the "D" Street Overpass is unable to use the funds within 15 days, the funds will go to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency for use in their Diesel Solutions program, which retrofits school buses to reduce toxic diesel emissions.
The Regional Council develops policies and coordinates decisions about regional growth and transportation planning in King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties. The Council is composed of over 80 county, city, port, transit, tribal and state agencies serving the region. It coordinates the distribution of about $100 million in Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transportation Administration funds each year. The Regional Council sets priorities and evaluates the most efficient ways to target those funds to support state and local transportation and growth management plans. PSRC fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. For more information, or to obtain a Title VI Complaint Form, see http://www.psrc.org/about/titlevi/index.htm or call 206-464-6175.