HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/03/2009 13 Other BusinessfF
02/27/2009 14:30
5095741551
February 27, 2009
YVCOG #'3�o?
* * * ** PRESS RELEASE * * * **
PAGE 01/02
Yakima County Region Expects $5.6M in Stimulus Funding for Local
Transportation Projects
The federal economic stimulus package, officially known . as the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act, i.s sending about $5.6 million to Yakima. County communities for eleven local .
transportation projects.
The money is part of $492 million Washington State expects to receive for transportation
projects, $148 million of which is .for use in local, projects approved by local transportation
planning organizations. At least one state highway project in. Yakima County, Vallcy Mall
Boulevard. Interchange at interstate 82, expects to receive funding from the larger, $345 rni..lbon .
state shaxe of the federal stimulus money..
Eleven local projects are likely to receive federal transportation "stimulus" :funds under, a priority
list that the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments completed recently working with. local .
governments as the regional transportation planning organization.:
■ Moxee $500,000 to improve Beaudiy Road to the north city limits.
® Selah $1.5 million for Speyers Road improvements.
■ Yaki.ma $950,000 improvements along Nob Hill Boulevard between 64 °' and 72" `�
Avenues.
■ Harrah $360,000 for repaving Harrah .Road.
■ Niches $326,000 for repaving 2 "d Street and a portion. of 3m Street.
■ Wapato $312,000 for a. paving overlay on Camas Avenue.
a Union Gap $322,000 for a paving overlay on North Rudkin Road 2uad tie in. tersection of
Main Street at Ahtanum Road.
■ Toppeni.sh $320,000 for a paving overlay on Toppenish. and Washington Avenues.
• Grandview $400;000 .for a paving overlay on Euclid Avenue.
• Sunnyside $150,000 for a paving overlay at Yakima Valley Hi.ghwa.y and Lincoln.
Yakima County $400,000 for a. paving overlay on Terrace Heights Drive.
Estimates for the .number of jobs these projects can create are not available. And there are
caveats.
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2/27/08 - )'VCO(i Press Release
RC. Local transportation projects for federal economic recovery firnding
Page 2 oj'2
The projects still need to receive final approval from a new Local Oversight and Accountability
Panel created at the direction of Gov. Chris Gregoire and state legislative leaders. The panel is
charged with .reviewing projects to ensure they are ready to go to bid in 120 clays.
The amount of stimulus funds available for local projects is also subject to change. The
Washington State .Department of Transportation has indicated that the state hopes to have final
figures from the Federal Highway Administration by March 10.
Other projects
If any of the eleven projects fails to pass the scrutiny of the state's .Local Oversight and
Accountability Panel, or if additional stimulus funds become available beyond the anticipated
$5.6 million, six other projects are already listed as .next -in -line priorities for the region.
Depending on the amount of funds available, projects that could be ready to utilize stimulus
funds include: Grandview's Downtown "Alive" .revitalization project, Yakima's grade separation
project, Union Gap's paving overlay ofAbtanu.m Road, Yakima's paving overlay of
Summitview Avenue, and completion of Yakima's Downtown Revitalization Phase 4 sidewalk
improvements. Union. Gap's Valley Mall Boulevard project from Rudkin Road to Main Street
(Phase IV) is also listed. due to the uncertainty of state transportation funds previously committed
to complete that project in concert with WSDOT's Valley Mall Boulevard interchange project.
For more information, please refer to the following resources:
Yakima County Regional Prioritized .List of local transportation projects - available at
www. yvcoe.orQ
.Note: Information about individual projects should be directed io the sponsoring agency.
Washington State Department of Transportation's .Economic Recovery information -
www.wsdot. wa. aov /.fitnd.in alstitnulus
CONTACT:
J. Page Scott, Executive Director
Yakima Valley Conference of Governments
(509) 574 -1550 — voice
(509) 574 -1551, — fax
(509) 494 -3616 - cell
scottp @yvcog.org
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