SEATTLE—The Puget Sound Regional Council is sending $109.5 million to eight high priority transportation projects that lost funding with passage of Initiative 695. The action by the Regional Council's Executive Board today will move ready-to-go projects forward more quickly and begin providing congestion relief as early as this fall.
"There's an urgent need to tackle traffic problems in our region now, not later. This action is an important part of the overall solution," said Regional Council President, Snohomish County Executive Bob Drewel.
"We've helped priority projects move forward and enhanced the state legislature's ability to fund additional vital road projects this year and provide more help for the folks who depend on the region's buses and ferries," said Seattle City Councilmember Richard McIver.
The money for the eight projects was made available when state and local projects previously targeted for federal funds were delayed by a combination of the loss of state funds to I-695 and new Endangered Species Act mandates. The Regional Council's action is prompted by federal requirements that the region use federal funds this federal fiscal year, or risk losing unspent dollars to other states where projects are moving forward. "We need to use these federal dollars now, or risk losing them," said Transportation Secretary Sid Morrison. "This action helps make the most of every transportation dollar that belongs here. It also comes with assurance that state and local projects previously targeted for these funds will still get funding when they need it."
The $109.5 million in projects funded by the Regional Council are:Sounder, $60 million - These funds replace state funds previously earmarked for track improvements and other work required to safely and efficiently coordinate the movement of freight and passenger trains between Tacoma and Everett. The funding will help Sound Transit deliver new commuter rail service between Tacoma and Seattle this fall.
FAST Corridor, $35.9 million - Three priority highway overpass projects are funded in the (Freight Action STrategy) corridor between Tacoma and Everett to relieve bottlenecks where railroad tracks meet busy roads. The Regional Council funding earmarks $12 million for an overpass at Port of Tacoma Road in Tacoma, $10 million for an overpass at "C" Street in Auburn, $13.9 m for an overpass on State Route 519 (Royal Brougham Way) in Seattle.
Congestion Relief Studies, $5.5 million - Two priority studies to develop solutions to the state's most notorious traffic problems associated with State Route 520 and Interstate 405 can be completed on a fast track.
Intermodal Stations, $8.15 million - An important transit and rail hub in Everett and another critical ferry and transit hub in Bremerton are funded. The Regional Council provides $5.4 million for the Everett Multimodal Station and $2.75 million for the Bremerton Transportation Center.
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 receives about $100 million in federal transportation funds each year and coordinates, sets priorities, and evaluates the most efficient ways to target those funds to support state and local transportation and growth management plans.