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Rep. Ericksen continues
ushering Guide Meridian funding through the legislative process
Rep. Doug Ericksen, lead
Republican member of the House Transportation Committee, continues to
ensure important local road projects, including the Guide Meridian,
remain funded in the 2004 supplemental transportation budget.
The House approved its transportation budget Friday by a vote of 85 –
10, and today the Senate approved its budget by a vote of 38-9.
“One of my primary goals when this session began was to make sure the
Guide Meridian project maintained its funding, and to accelerate the
project timeline,” said Ericksen, R-Ferndale. “I’m thrilled with the
results so far, and I’ll continue to shepherd it through the process
until the very end.”
Guide Meridian is a
primary highway for freight to Canada and a main arterial for Whatcom
County. It will be used as a major gateway to the 2010 Olympics in
Vancouver, B.C.
“Guide Meridian is important to the citizens of Whatcom County,” said
Ericksen. “It’s also important to our economic well-being. The better
prepared we are to handle the influx of visitors who will flock to our
region prior to, during and after the Olympic games, the more Whatcom
County stands to gain in terms of attracting exposure and millions in
overflow tourism dollars.”
Lead House and Senate members from their respective transportation
committees’ chambers must now work through differences in the two
budgets and pass a final version in the remaining 10 days of the regular
2004 legislative session.
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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