Larsen secures $31,529,221 for fifteen local projects in omnibus spending package

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN |||

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) voted for the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus spending package, which included funding Larsen secured for fifteen projects in the Second District that local leaders and stakeholders identified as critical to their communities. The package now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“My priority in shaping spending bills is to invest in Northwest Washington communities to create jobs, keep the economy moving and improve vital services residents rely on,” said Larsen. “I will continue to champion these critical projects to ensure communities can strengthen vital infrastructure, build a cleaner, safer and more accessible transportation network, improve access to critical services for working families and students, and grow Washington’s economy.”

For the second year in a row, the spending bill includes earmarks for important community projects; in last year’s package, Larsen secured more than $10.6 million for ten Second District projects. Larsen secured the following earmarks to support Northwest Washington communities:

Strengthen Vital Infrastructure

• City of Arlington’s 169th Street Connecting Segment – Arlington will complete a missing roadway segment of 169th Street that will link the Cascade Industrial Center (CIC) to Smokey Point Boulevard. ($3,654,893)
• Snohomish County’s Culvert Replacements – Snohomish County will replace two culverts on Trickle Creek in Bothell and Lake Martha Creek in Stanwood to improve fish passage and repair roadway damage. ($3,000,000)
• Skagit Public Utility District’s Alger Interstate 5 Waterline Relocation – Skagit PUD will design and partially relocate its waterline that crosses I-5 at Alger. ($2,000,000)
• City of Oak Harbor’s Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) Correction Program – Oak Harbor will improve its wastewater infrastructure by renewing the integrity of leaky mainlines. ($1,950,000)
• Port of Friday Harbor’s Barge and Access Road – The Port will reconstruct its existing landing and access road for barge landing. ($650,000)

Build Cleaner, Safer and More Accessible Transportation Network

• San Juan County Public Works Department’s Town to Zylstra Lake Multi-Modal Trail – The Public Works Department will construct about 2.5 miles of paved trail for pedestrians and bicyclists from the town of Friday Harbor to Zylstra Lake Preserve. ($5,280,000)
• City of Maryville’s Grove Street Overcrossing – Marysville will build a new overcrossing at the BNSF mainline on Grove Street between Cedar and State Avenues, eliminating significant congestion and lengthy traffic backups due to train traffic. ($3,000,000)
• Whatcom Transportation Authority’s 2011 Fixed Route Diesel to Electric Replacement – WTA will upgrade three diesel buses to three electrical buses and obtain and install three chargers. ($2,000,000)
• City of Lynnwood’s 44th Avenue West Underpass Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvement – Lynnwood will replace the existing dark and narrow 44th Avenue Underpass with a 10-to 12-foot shared use pathway, providing a better connection to public transit for pedestrians and bicyclists at the Lynnwood City Center Station. ($1,744,328)
• Samish Indian Nation’s Tommy Thompson Trail Trestle and Causeway Replacement Design – The Samish will invest in preliminary engineering to enable the Tribe to design and construct the Tommy Thompson Trail to replace the trestle and 770 creosote pilings, remove the current causeway, and provide non-motorized recreational access to the trail. ($750,000)

Improve Equity for Working Families and Students

• Volunteers of America Western Washington’s Lynnwood Neighborhood Center – VOAWW will construct a new 40,000-square-foot facility with early learning and youth programs, health services, job training and other critical community services. ($3,000,000)
• Habitat for Humanity of Island County’s Retail Store, Warehouse and Administrative Office Purchase – HFHIC will purchase its leased space, removing the burden of more than $10,000 per month in lease fees and securing the long-term viability of HFHIC. ($2,000,000)
• Edmonds College’s Marine and AI Robotics Pathways – Edmonds College will offer two new expedited pathways into careers in Marine and Artificial Intelligence Robotics at its Advanced Manufacturing Skills Center at Paine Field in Everett. ($1,300,000)
• Western Washington University’s Longhouse Equipment and Development Programs – WWU will invest in commercial kitchen appliances and educational programs at its Longhouse, with the goal of supporting food sovereignty and security for WWU’s native students, while enhancing educational programming and community functions. ($450,000)

Invest in Northwest Washington’s Outdoor Economy

• City of Marysville’s Mother Nature’s Window Park Renewal – Marysville will reopen and develop Mother Nature’s Window, a 35-acre park site in central Marysville, with parking, fencing, open play areas, an off-leash dog area, a small amphitheater, trails and restrooms. ($750,000)

 What WA-02 Community Leaders and Stakeholders Are Saying

Arlington Mayor Barb Tolbert

On the 169^th Street Connecting Segment: “The 169th Street project will complete a missing segment of this bypass street that parallels State Route 531. The completion of 169th Street will further the development of a multimodal transportation grid in the Cascade Industrial Center and Smokey Point neighborhoods in Arlington. We are so pleased to have this important project funded by the federal government, this will allow us relief as we partner with the State on the reconstruction of the highway that supports freight and business access.”

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring

On the Grove Street Overcrossing: “In recent years with more and more people moving here, traffic congestion exacerbated by the railroad tracks running through downtown Marysville has become a consistent problem. This federal investment in the Grove Street Overcrossing will help us build a train-free alternative for drivers, improving traffic flow and increasing east-west connectivity.”

On Mother Nature’s Window Park: “This federal funding will enable the City of Marysville to begin opening a large, beautiful park with old-growth timber to public access. It’s a rare treasure and a much-needed park asset in central Marysville.”

Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers

On Culvert Replacements: “The people of Snohomish County are very grateful to Representative Rick Larsen for his leadership on funding these critical infrastructure projects. Removing fish barriers will obviously help improve habitat for key species, but it also means that our economy will continue to benefit from outdoor recreation. These two important projects translate into more jobs, sustaining our quality of life, and ensuring many generations to come will be able to enjoy salmon, Orca, and our most beautiful corner of the Pacific Northwest.” 

Skagit PUD General Manager George Sidhu

On Alger Interstate 5 Waterline Relocation: “Skagit PUD appreciates Congressman Larsen’s work in securing funding for our Alger I-5 Waterline Relocation project. The main objective in relocating the waterline is for a new culvert to be constructed across I-5, allowing for better fish passage. Environmental stewardship is one of Skagit PUD’s core values, so we’re pleased to participate in enhanced salmon recovery efforts in Skagit County. The funding will also save Skagit PUD ratepayers $2 million in capital expenses. This project is a win for the environment and our customers.” 

Whatcom Transportation Authority Board Chair Michael Lilliquist

On 2011 Fixed Route Diesel to Electric Replacement: “WTA once again thanks Rep. Larsen for his leadership and hard work to help WTA and other transit agencies move to cleaner, non-polluting buses. Funding this project will accelerate WTA’s ability to implement our goal of transitioning our fleet to zero-emission buses by 2040 or sooner, while at the same time maintaining high levels of service across Whatcom County, especially in neighborhoods and rural communities that need it the most.” 

Oak Harbor Mayor Robert Severns

On Inflow and Infiltration Correction Program: “We appreciate the support of U.S. Representative Rick Larsen to help us address a vital community need for the City of Oak Harbor. The Wastewater Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) Correction program will significantly reduce long-term impacts by increasing the capacity to serve future growth in our community while decreasing the costs of treating wastewater. This program benefits the entire Puget Sound region, our local ratepayers, and the environment.”

Lynnwood Mayor Christine Frizzell

On 44th Avenue West Underpass Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvement: “This appropriation for the 44th Ave W Underpass Improvement Project allow us to fully fund construction and open this safe and accessible bicycle/pedestrian connection to the Lynnwood City Center Station in tandem with the opening of the Lynnwood Link Extension in 2024. We are grateful for Representative Larsen’s steadfast commitment to transportation infrastructure and being a champion for multi-modal connections.” 

Port of Friday Harbor Executive Director Todd Nicholson

On Barge and Access Road: “The Port of Friday Harbor’s commercial barge landing is the sole supply route to San Juan Island for all transportation and heating fuels, hazardous materials, and oxygen for the hospital. This infrastructure is an essential for the residents and businesses on San Juan Island and the non-ferry served islands in San Juan County. The Port would like to thank Congressman Larsen and his amazing staff for their advocacy on this critical infrastructure project.” 

San Juan County Manager Mike Thomas

On Town to Zylstra Lake Multi-Modal Trail

“Thanks to the unwavering support of Congressman Rick Larsen, the long planned for and much discussed Zylstra Lake trail is now a reality. The $5.28m Congressional appropriation will fund a 2.5 mile walking and cycling pathway from Town out to Zylstra Lake Preserve where residents and visitors alike will be able to enjoy 285 acres of habitat and trails in a truly unique and unforgettable island setting.”

Volunteers of America Western Washington CEO Steve Corsi 

On Lynnwood Neighborhood Center: “Rick Larsen has been a friend and supporter of Volunteers of Western Washington for many years. He is a champion of change, and we are so grateful for him and his leadership to help us build, connect, and transform South Snohomish County through the Lynnwood Neighborhood Center.”

Habitat for Humanity of Island County CEO Oran Kolaitis

On Retail Store, Warehouse and Administrative Office Purchase: “Providing shelter by selling safe, decent, and affordable homes has been our mission for more than 20 years, and we know well what the impact is when a family is blessed with the stability and security of owning their own home. This incredible investment which allows us to purchase our Retail Store, Warehouse and Office building in Oak Harbor will provide our organization that same stability, enabling us to create an even greater impact in our community for many more years. We anticipate the growth of job opportunities, increased new home construction for our workforce, and expanding critical home repairs for seniors, veterans and the most vulnerable homeowners in our community.”

Samish Indian Nation Chairman Tom Wooten

On Tommy Thompson Trail Trestle and Causeway Replacement Design: “This project plays in incredible role in removing the toxic creosote pollutant from the bay and is a critical step in our efforts to preserve our community’s land and help it to flourish. We’re so grateful to the Washington Department of Natural Resources for their support in restoring the water quality of Fidalgo Bay.” 

Western Washington University President Sabah Randhawa

On Longhouse Equipment and Development Programs: “We are deeply grateful to Rep. Larsen for his support of WWU’s Longhouse project. This House of Healing will have a powerful impact on the recruitment and retention of Native American students, and it will promote cultural sovereignty and a sense of place and belonging for Native students, faculty, staff and for our neighboring tribal communities. It will also honor the fact that the campus occupies traditional Lummi Nation territory.”

Edmonds College President Dr. Amit Singh

On Marine and AI Robotics Pathways: “I am very thankful to Congressman Rick Larsen for this investment in the future of The Advanced Manufacturing Skills Center at Edmonds College and our students. This allows us to bring new programs in Maritime and Robotics in Manufacturing to our community. These programs fulfill critical labor shortage needs through short term training programs that lead to skilled jobs needed to build vital infrastructures for our future. We are excited and ready to get started.”