Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced millions in transportation funding for Snohomish County that the U.S. House of Representatives approved today. The funding is included in H.R. 3, the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEALU).  The six-year, $284 billion surface transportation package replaces the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). TEALU doubles ferry funding as proposed by Larsen and includes money he pushed for in order to address congestion relief, increase safety on rural roads, and improve freight mobility in Snohomish County and Washington state. A list of Snohomish County projects is included at the bottom of this release.

“This bill lays out the framework for the next six years of federal transportation funding,” Larsen noted. “As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I will keep pushing to make sure that the final version of this critical bill includes Snohomish County transportation priorities.” 

The House bill incorporates Larsen’s proposal to boost ferry funding. The previous bill, TEA-21, authorized $220 million over six years for ferries. If the provision is included in the final version of the bill, it will authorize $430 million for fiscal years 2004 through 2009 for the nation’s ferry systems.

In addition to ferry funding, the bill includes other provisions that if passed would benefit Washington state.

 “This bill will improve safety and relieve congestion in Snohomish County communities,” Larsen said. “As this bill moves closer to the president’s desk, I will keep working to make sure that the bill invests in Snohomish County transportation needs.”

Larsen serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. TEA-21 was set to expire on September 30, 2003 but Congress extended it and failed to reauthorize the bill last year. The new bill, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEA LU) reauthorizes the federal highway, public transportation, highway safety, and motor carrier safety programs for six years, from fiscal years 2004 through 2009. It provides $284 billion in guaranteed funding. The Highway Trust Fund provides funding for the bill. It does not come from the general treasury and pays for itself with funds from the federal gas tax.

Projects of Statewide Significance
· $430 million for fiscal years 2004 through 2009 for the nation’s ferry systems, Washington State: The previous bill, TEA-21, authorized $220 million over six years for ferries.

· $500,000 for the West Coast Corridor Coalition, Washington State: Funds will allow the West Coast Corridor project to identify and advocate policies, strategies, projects, and funding to improve the movement of freight and goods through, from, and within the West Coast transportation system, and to mitigate the congestion and community impacts that arise from freight movement.

Snohomish County
· $3 million for Community Transit’s Bus Purchases and Facilities Enhancements: Larsen worked with Rep. Jay Inslee to secure these funds to help CT purchase buses and expand facilities.
· $1 million for SR 9 and 20th Street SE Intersection Reconstruction, Snohomish County, WA: This funding will help relieve congestion and improve safety at the intersection and help with the ongoing redevelopment of SR 9 into a five-lane highway.
· $100,000 for 5th Street/U.S. 2 Signalization Improvements, Sultan, WA: This funding will provide for a signal at the intersection of U.S. 2 and 5th Street in Sultan, WA.  The signal is needed to allow access in and out of Sultan and increase safety along U.S. 2.
· $600,000 for Sultan Basin Road/U.S. 2 Improvements, Sultan, WA: This funding will help provide for major upgrades at the intersection of U.S. 2 and Sultan Basin Road, including a new signal and a dedicated left-hand turn lane. The improvements are needed to provide better access to Sultan Basin Road and increase safety along U.S. 2.
· $4.85 million for 41st Street Interchange, Everett, WA: The project will widen the 41st Street bridge over I-5 from three lanes to five and provide better access on and off I-5.
· $3.5 million for East Marine View Drive Widening, Everett, WA: The funding will complete the widening of East Marine View Drive between I-5 and SR 529.  The project will ease congestion and increase freight mobility into and out of the Port of Everett.
· $1 million for the Centennial Trail Project, Snohomish, WA: This funding completes the Centennial Trail into the city of Snohomish.  The trail provides a safe alternative transportation route and currently runs between Lake Stevens and the edge of Snohomish.
· $175,000 for the Pedestrian Sidewalk Construction, Snohomish, WA: This project will construct and enhance sidewalks in Snohomish in order to increase safety, reduce congestion, and increase economic development in Snohomish.
· $480,000 for U.S. 2/Old Owen Road Intersection, Monroe, WA: This funding will help reconfigure the intersection and provide a dedicated right turn lane from East Main Street to eastbound U.S. 2.  It will help increase access and safety along U.S. 2 in downtown Monroe.
· $1.04 million for U.S. 2/Kelsey Street Intersection Improvements, Monroe, WA: Funding will help the city of Monroe develop and construct a left hand turn lane onto Kelsey Street from U.S. 2.  This will increase accessibility for businesses in Monroe to traffic and increase safety along U.S. 2. 
· $2.93 million for Granite Falls Alternate Freight Route, Granite Falls, WA: These funds will continue to help develop and construct an alternate route for trucks to take around the city of Granite Falls. Currently, quarry and logging trucks are forced to drive through downtown Granite Falls to access western Snohomish County and I-5.  This project will decrease delays caused by truck traffic and keep commercial traffic off the downtown roads.
· $5.8 million for the Mukilteo Multimodal Terminal, Mukilteo, WA: Larsen and Rep. Jay Inslee combined their efforts to secure the funds that will help complete the Mukilteo multimodal facility that will create a transportation facility for ferry, bus, rail and car passengers.  The outdated ferry terminal alone supports 4.2 million passengers and 2.3 million vehicles a year. An expanded Sounder rail stop, transit center and new terminal would ease congestion and give residents of Island and Snohomish Counties real transportation options.
· $1.1 million to Construct the SR 9 Pedestrian Overpass, Arlington, WA: Funds will construct a pedestrian overpass on highway 9.  This overpass will allow students and community members to access two new public schools without crossing a busy state highway. 
· $600,000 for the 267th Street NW Pedestrian Path, Stanwood, WA: Funds will help construct sidewalks to increase pedestrian safety near Port Susan Middle School. 
· $2 million for the 116th Street I-5 Interchange Reconstruction, Marysville, WA: Funds will help improve 116th Street Interchange. These improvements are necessary to better commuter and freight mobility and prepare the region for growth.
· $400,000 to Realign Airport Road, Springhetti Avenue, and Marsh Road, Snohomish County, WA: This funding will help realign the three roads that connect east of SR 9 in an awkward and unsafe three-way intersection. This project will improve safety and reduce congestion.

The Senate is working on its own version of the bill. Once Senate action is completed, House and Senate leaders will negotiate the differences in their bills and create and pass a conference agreement that will go to the president.