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March 8, 2018
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
A vote by the Senate this morning sent the 2017-19 supplemental transportation
budget to the governor for his consideration. It is the first of the three “supplemental”
budgets to win full legislative approval. These are the budgets approved in mid-biennium
to make adjustments to the existing budgets. Work is continuing on the
supplemental capital and operating budgets. We will need to vote on final
versions of those by the end of today if the legislative session is to end
on its 60-day schedule.
The updated budget includes new appropriations for two important projects in
the 12th District, thanks in large part to the good work of local advocates who
worked with me to make a strong case to the Senate Transportation Committee Chair
Steve Hobbs (D-Lake Stevens) and other colleagues and staff. Special thanks to
Chelan Mayor Mike Cooney, Wenatchee Mayor Frank Kuntz, and Chelan-Douglas
Transportation Council Executive Director Jeff Wilkens who helped advocate with
me for these projects.
Combined with the $2 million toward US2/West Cashmere Bridge replacement, which remains in the budget, these appropriations mean nearly $3 million has been approved for 12th District transportation projects -- for this biennium -- outside of the new tax package approved in 2015. Our region can be very proud of what we have accomplished together.
Local projects funded in transportation budget
Chelan – Highway 97A/SR 150 traffic mitigation – $300,000
The increase in traffic on Highway 97A and State
Route 150 in and out of Chelan could cause excessive delays at intersections that
don’t have traffic signals. The lack of coordination between the Sanders/Woodin
and Sanders/Johnson intersections (which are just 200 feet apart) is also an
issue. The city is planning enhancements to its iconic Woodin Avenue Bridge,
which include converting it to a one-way thoroughfare to increase accessibility
and improve safety for pedestrians. The city also wants to address the nearby
signal/intersection issues. This budget appropriation will support that work,
which anticipates continued growth in the area. This new funding complements the $280 million still in the transportation budget for Woodin Avenue Bridge project.
Chelan Mayor Mike Cooney met with me at the Capitol early
in the legislative session to request funding to help with the traffic
situation in Chelan.
SR 285 North Wenatchee Ave. Bypass (Confluence Parkway) EIS –
$400,000
Late last year I wrote to the U.S. secretary of
transportation in support of local efforts to obtain federal grant funding that
will advance the Apple Capital Loop multimodal transportation project.The
project includes the State Route 285 North Wenatchee Bypass, and that proposal requires
environmental review – in the form of an environmental impact statement. An appropriation
in the supplemental transportation budget will help the city of Wenatchee, as
the lead agency, fund the EIS process. That in turn will help strengthen the
federal grant proposal. Click here to learn more about Wenatchee's grant application.
Wenatchee Mayor Frank Kuntz and Jeff Wilkens, executive
director of the Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council, joined me to meet with
Senator Steve Hobbs, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. Together
with Senate transportation policy staff, we explained how funding to begin an
EIS would assist the Wenatchee Valley.
For more information about the
budgets and other issues before the Senate as we wrap up our work for this
session:
Thank you again for the opportunity to serve as
your 12th District state senator.
Sincerely,
Brad Hawkins
State Senator
Brad Hawkins
12th Legislative District
E-mail:
brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov
Website: senatorbradhawkins.org
107 Newhouse Building
- P.O. Box 40412 | Olympia, WA 98504-0412
(360) 786-7622 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000
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