Gov. Gregoire announces selection of local projects receiving federal stimulus funding

For Immediate Release: March 13, 2009

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced a list of city and county transportation projects designated to receive federal funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed by President Barack Obama in February. The selection endorses these projects as having met the federal requirements to receive federal recovery funds.

�I�m very pleased that Washington state is wasting no time getting this federal money to work,� Gregoire said. �We have to get these construction projects off the ground quickly to create jobs and help rebuild long-neglected roads, bridges and sewers in our cities.�

The project list comprises 147 projects worth $152 million with the potential to support nearly 1,500 jobs. These projects were requested for consideration from cities, counties, ports and tribes throughout Washington.

�We�re pleased to move forward a wide variety of projects aimed at significantly improving the quality and longevity of Washington�s transportation system,� said Transportation Investment Board Director Steve Gorcester. �This construction work on streets, sidewalks and trails will improve safety, mobility and economic vitality from border to border.�

Regional planning organizations, cities, counties, ports and transit agencies have been working since November on developing a list of �shovel ready� projects for consideration to receive economic recovery funds. All projects receiving funding have been put through a screening process to make sure they meet the criteria and will be ready to receive federal funds within the next three months.

Larger regional transportation management areas (Puget Sound, Spokane and Vancouver) selected 43 projects totaling $97.5 million. For the remaining local ARRA funds, other jurisdictions used their metropolitan planning organizations and county lead agencies to recommend projects to a new Local Oversight and Accountability Panel. The panel is chaired by the director of Washington�s Transportation Improvement Board, with representatives from the Association of Washington Cities, Washington Association of Counties, Tribal Transportation Planning Organization, Washington Public Ports Association and Washington State Department of Transportation.

Once the project list is certified by Gregoire later this month, WSDOT will provide management and public accountability for the projects that receive funding.

A list of local projects is available on WSDOT�s Web site, http://wsdot.wa.gov/funding/stimulus.

Washington state is administering the Recovery Act investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire created a new website, www.recovery.wa.gov enabling every Washingtonian to see where their tax dollars are going and hold government accountable for the results. On the federal level, President Obama has appointed Vice President Biden to oversee all states' recovery efforts and to root out waste and fraud. This combined oversight will ensure taxpayer dollars are put to good use and recharge the economy.