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Three key 12th District
projects funded in
House supplemental budget
Three major North Central
Washington projects are now funded because of changes in the
supplemental transportation budget passed by the House of
Representatives, Reps. Mike Armstrong and
Cary Condotta announced today.
Both legislators said they were pleased the projects are one step closer
to becoming reality, and will now focus on getting them into final
transportation budget negotiations between the House and Senate, and
signed by the governor.
Armstrong, R-Wenatchee and member of the House Transportation Committee,
followed through on a vow he made last year to get critical 12th
District projects into this year’s supplemental budget.
“This budget recognizes what I, local folks back home and the
Metropolitan Planning Organization have called for, including George
Sellar bridge interchanges in the list of critical transportation
projects we must fund,” said Armstrong. “These three projects are
equally important to the people we serve and address important safety
issues. Now the monies earmarked in last year’s transportation plan for
local projects will be split to pay for the George Sellar, Big Y and US
2 projects.”
Condotta, R-East
Wenatchee, was pleased the people of North Central Washington will get
something in return for the transportation funding increase passed last
year.
“Citizens of the 12th District weren’t too excited about higher gas
taxes,” said Condotta. “At least now we’re getting projects that will
address our highest priorities and set the stage for future
improvements.”
The three projects and
their funding amounts are:
-
Phase one of the
SR28/East end of the George Sellar Bridge ($9 million)
-
Constructing a half
diamond interchange at US 2/East Wenatchee Cascade Avenue ($11
million)
-
The Big “Y” project
coming off Blewett Pass ($5 million)
The 2004 House
supplemental transportation budget revises the 2003-05 biennium
Transportation Budget passed last year by the Legislature, and addresses
new critical projects, recent developments and associated funding
shortfalls in the amount of approximately $42 million.
Condotta was particularly glad to get the US 2/East Wenatchee Cascade
Avenue project into the budget.
“Not only would this project improve safety at a very dangerous
intersection,” Condotta said, “it would also set the stage for a future
lower bench route/Eastmont extension, or the possibility of an upper
route.”
In his comments to fellow House members, Armstrong praised the
bipartisan effort that went into creating the transportation plan. He
thanked his friend and chair of the House Transportation Committee, Rep.
Ed Murray, D-Seattle, for his visit to North Central Washington to see
first hand 12th District local needs for transportation improvements.
The budget now goes to the Senate for consideration. The Senate has
produced its own transportation budget and will send it to the House for
review. Both chambers then must work through differences and pass the
final version in the remaining 10 days of the regular 2004 legislative
session.
# # #
For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7252
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