December 12, 2011
Federal Grant to Help Alleviate I-5 Traffic Congestion at JBLM
In an effort to help Washington State alleviate what has become a major source of congestion along Interstate 5 in Tacoma, the U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding a $15 million grant to assist the state’s traffic management plan for the corridor near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Congressman Norm Dicks has learned.
Rep. Dicks said he was informed by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood that the Tacoma project was approved as part of the National Infrastructure Investments Discretionary Grants Program – the department’s competitive program that invests in road, rail, transit and port projects that address critical national infrastructure objectives.
Washington State’s Department of Transportation had applied for the funding to assist its coordinated plan for “active traffic management” along Interstate 5 that will involve ramp metering as well as establishing a traffic monitoring and advisory capability to reduce the chronic congestion that has plagued the area in recent years.
In addition, Rep. Dicks said, the plan involves changes to facilitate vehicle access and departure from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, especially during peak hours when the base traffic has the greatest impact on Interstate 5.
“The JBLM situation has been our highest transportation priority in the South Sound area, and I have been working with Congressman Adam Smith and Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell to bring federal resources to assist in developing creative solutions to this problem,” Rep. Dicks said. He said the four lawmakers had urged the approval of the state’s application for funding.
Further details on the project can be found on WSDOT's website.
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