For Immediate Release:

Wednesday, July 24, 2002

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, announced today that she has secured important federal funding for Puget Sound transportation projects in the fiscal year 2003 transportation spending bill.

The funding will address critical infrastructure needs throughout the region, including bridges, busses, airport and transit facilities.

In addition to the earmarked funding, Washington state will also receive hundreds of millions of dollars in federal highway and transit formula funding. In Murray's bill, Washington state will receive $510 million in Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) grants and $101 million in Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants to address transportation issues throughout the state.

"I am proud to have helped direct federal funding to the Puget Sound region and Washington state in this year's transportation bill," Senator Murray said. "Our region's economy is facing tough times and we must do all that we can to keep jobs and businesses in the Puget Sound area. These increased monies will help ease congestion by investing in public transportation, highways and other critical transportation infrastructure. I know this funding will go a long way to improving the quality of life and increasing economic prosperity for our region."

Transportation earmarks for the Puget Sound region:

FAST Corridor Project - $10 million

The FAST Corridor program is a series of grade-crossing and port-access projects in the corridor between Tacoma and Everett intended to enhance passenger and freight mobility in the Puget Sound region. Senator Murray has secured over $120 million for this project to date, including $20 million in the last year.

Sounder Commuter Rail - $30 million

These funds may be used to pay for right-of-way, equipment and construction to expand Sounder Commuter Rail services between Seattle, Everett, Tacoma and Lakewood. Senator Murray secured $20 million for this project last year.

Operation Safe Commerce - $30 m (approximately $10 m for Seattle-Tacoma)

"Operation Safe Commerce" is a pilot program that will provide funding to America's three largest container ports to address the security vulnerabilities posed by more than 6 million intermodal containers that enter U.S. ports each year. The three ports take in half of all container cargo entering the U.S. The Ports of Seattle and Tacoma comprise the third busiest container port in the country, after Los Angeles-Long Beach and New York-New Jersey.

Edmonds Crossing Multimodal Project - $4 million

The funding will provide for the design and property acquisition phase of the Edmonds crossing Multimodal Project. This will be a new facility for transit connections in Edmonds.

Airport Security Demonstration at SeaTac - $4.7 million

This funding will help develop a pilot project at SeaTac to create a security solution that integrates the capabilities of mobile software to monitor and interpret air traffic operations and irregular flight conditions. The company that will commission this project is Topia, a Washington state company.

SR99/Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seattle Seawall Replacement - $2.5 million

The project will commence preliminary engineering and design work on how to replace the Alaska Way Viaduct and Seattle Seawall.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Air Traffic Control Tower - $550,000

Help with the replacement tower construction and development

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, TRACON - $4.8 million

Assist the air traffic control improvements at SeaTac.

Everett Airport - $925,000

Make various improvements to the air traffic control system.

Seattle Everett Rail Corridor Study - $750,000

Funding to conduct a study of track capacity and utilization by freight, commuter and intercity rail services in the Seattle-Everett Rail Corridor and the environmental challenges that would accompany expansion of that track capacity.

Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor Rail Safety Improvement Projects (Amtrak Cascades) - $1.5 million

This project will improve the high-speed rail linking Eugene, Portland, Seattle and British Columbia. It is part of an incremental program that envisions 13 daily round trips between Seattle and Portland, operating at speeds up to 110 mph. To accomplish this goal, a series of grade crossing improvements all along the corridor are needed. In addition, these improvements the project will help improve commuter and freight traffic from Seattle to Everett.

Rebuild ISC Seattle Pier 36 – Phase I - $16 million

The Coast Guard is in the process of repairing and rebuilding the Coast Guard's Integrated Support Center at Pier 36 in Seattle. The facilities are outdated and need to be rebuilt and repairs need to be made due to damage from the Nisqually Earthquake in February 2001.

Aurora Ave. North Bus Rapid Transit - $2 million

This money will fund an integrated package of capital projects on the Aurora North Corridor to improve speed and reliability of transit and better transit access. Elements include sidewalk repair and construction; safety improvements like lighting and pedestrian signals; and new bus shelters that include technology allowing transit users to track the status of their bus.

Community Transit Park and Ride - $3.5 million

The project provides support for the development of additional park and ride capacity on both the I-5 and I-405 corridors in Snohomish County.

Burien Transit Center/Transit Oriented Development - $2 million

The City of Burien, in conjunction with King County Metro, is in the process of redeveloping the downtown urban center and plans to construct a Transit Oriented Development at this site which will incorporate a new off-street bus Transit Center, multi-use housing, and office and retail uses. Funds for this project will permit development of the structured parking facility, which will, in turn, facilitate the overall redevelopment effort.

Pierce Transit Bus Initiative - $3 million

The funding will support the replacement of 19 high-mileage diesel buses with compressed natural gas vehicles.

City of Kent Intracity Transit Project - $1.5 million

The project will assist the City of Kent Commute Trip Reduction Program, which provides connector service between Kent's Sounder Commuter Rail Station and Kent's Industrial Valley.

Everett Development 41st Street Interchange - $1 million

Funding will support redesign and renovations of the 41st Street/I-5 Interchange to ease traffic congestion.

Interurban Trail Construction - $400,000

This project will construct a 3-mile non-motorized trail "arterial" through Shoreline connecting to the Interurban trail system in Seattle and Snohomish Counties. The trail will serve transportation and recreational uses and create a linear park the length of Shoreline.

City of Lynnwood Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) - $2 million

The project will install a multi-component ITS to improve infrastructure. Improvements will include transit signals and technical renovations to the operations center.

Program of Projects, Washington - $5.5 million

This money will go to the state of Washington to accelerate the integration and interoperability of ITS across the system, jurisdiction and modal boundaries, in metropolitan and rural areas, to improve transportation efficiency, promote safety, increase traffic flow, reduce emissions of air pollutants, improve traveler information, and enhance alternative modes. The money will go to several projects across the state.

Regional Express Transit Hubs (Mercer Island, Federal Way, Kirkland, Lynnwood and Lakewood) - $5 million

This project will support increased park and ride capacity lot, new transit centers and HOV direct access ramps to facilitate efficient access for buses and carpools.

Vehicular Flywheel System - $1.5 million

This funding will help the Vehicular Flywheel Project comply with safety requirements, satisfy heavy-duty vehicle power management requirements, meet federal standardized weight and size requirements and provide engineering support for the flywheel power system during vehicle testing as required by design specifications.

SR 164 Improvements, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe - $420,000

The funds will help create left turn lanes, bus turnouts and flashing beacons for pedestrians on the road which links Auburn and Enumclaw and serves the Muckleshoot Reservation.

Thea Foss Waterway Environmental Protection and Transportation Impact Project - $500,000

The funds will support a study by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to research the effects on public health, safety, the environment and the economy associated with the discharge of storm-water from the two interstate highways and connected transportation routes to the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma.

I-405 Corridor Improvements – Tukwila to Lynnwood - $2.5 million

The project will start the preliminary engineering, detailed environmental review and the permitting process for I-405 improvements and expansion.

WorkFirst Transportation Initiative - $3.5 million

The project will provide transportation to low-income job seekers and workers in a number of ways including, new transit routes, extended hours of transit services (nights and weekends), van-pooling, ride-sharing, transporting people from outlying areas to transit hubs, and employer-provided transportation.

Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (Battelle) - $1.5 million

Funds to conduct research into heavy vehicle safety, and vulnerability assessments regarding security and safety in all modes of transportation.

Washington State Ferries - $2.5 million

This is the yearly entitlement funding under TEA-21 for the Washington State Ferries. Washington is one of only three states to receive such funding.

Washington State Ferries, Rich Passage Passenger Ferry Project - $1 million

This project will analyze the most feasible approach to high-speed water transportation between the cities of Bremerton and Seattle in Washington state.

Washington State Ferries Wireless Connection Project - $1 million

This funding will develop system-wide wireless connectivity for crew and passengers on Washington State Ferries. The company that would do the work is Mobilisa, Inc., a Port Townsend, WA company.

Oil Spill Prevention, 13th District - $1.6 million

This project will provide funding for the Captain of the Port in the Puget Sound to improve oil spill mitigation and prevention.

Maritime Electro-Optical Infrared (EO/IR), Handheld and Fixed Sensors (FLIR) - $5 million

These sensors are on cutters, patrol boats, as well as for Marine Safety Offices and Marine Safety and Security Teams. These sensors assist in both the maritime safety and security mission goals by enabling the Coast Guard personnel to conduct maritime operations safely and effectively at night in adverse weather conditions.