Posted on November 17, 2021
Follows years of advocacy and the passage of historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that will deliver at least $8.5 billion to Washington State
WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) announced today that she has helped to successfully secure $20 million in federal funding for the East Marginal Way Corridor Improvement project. The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded this substantial Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant following months of continued advocacy by the Congresswoman on behalf of the Seattle community.
“This critical federal funding for the East Marginal Way Corridor Improvement project will not only directly benefit those who call our community home but it will also generate a robust economic benefit for our city, state, and country,” said Congresswoman Jayapal. “I am proud to have fought to secure this $20 million RAISE Grant that will improve one of our nation’s most important internal transportation centers, which connects seven Port of Seattle terminals with freight rail yards and industrial operations to the national highway system. I appreciate Secretary Buttigieg’s willingness to partner with me as we continue investing in Seattle’s roads, bridges, waterways, and public transit systems at a historic scale.”
This federal grant will increase safety and mobility for Seattle residents while also generating numerous economic benefits for the nation. The new funding will allow the city to improve freight mobility and access in the region while reducing traffic accidents and fatalities for pedestrians, cyclists, and heavy haul freight trucks. It will also be used to construct a protected bike lane to reduce fatalities, increase visibility, and protect the nearly 1,000 bicycle riders that use the corridor each day. Additionally, it will be used to construct adaptive traffic signals, relocate railroad tracks, and provide adequate lighting as well as adding a Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) that would inform motorists of current traffic conditions.
Today’s grant announcement follows months of sustained advocacy by Representative Jayapal as she worked to secure federal funding for this project. She regularly met with DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other administrative officials in addition to the City of Seattle, the Port of Seattle, local businesses, and individuals who are directly impacted.
In July of this year, Representative Jayapal urged Secretary Buttigieg to fund the City of Seattle’s RAISE grant application for the East Marginal Way Corridor Improvement project. She told the Biden Administration that, “As the City of Seattle and the Northwest region continue to rapidly grow and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, improvements to the East Marginal Way Corridor, one of the nation’s most critical internal transportation centers, are essential to promote national and international economic competitiveness.”
This followed her advocacy the year prior in which she urged DOT Secretary Elaine Chao to fund the critical project via a DOT Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grant. Additionally, the Congresswoman fought for the improvement to East Marginal Way by submitting the project to the powerful House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure as one of her regional priorities.
Earlier this month, Representative Jayapal also helped deliver a historic $1.2 trillion investment in our country’s infrastructure that includes more than $8.5 billion for Washington state. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — which President Joe Biden signed into law on Monday — includes critical federal investments in Washington’s roads, bridges, highways, waterways, culverts, public transportation systems, clean energy infrastructure, and broadband while also creating millions of good paying, union jobs. This legislation is the largest federal investment in public transit in American history and the largest dedicated bridge investment since the creation of the interstate highway.
Today’s grant announcement also follows news that Congresswoman Jayapal had helped to secure more than $11.2 million in federal funding to quickly and safely repair the West Seattle Bridge.
