U-S Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announcing the award of a federal grant to help rebuild a new Port Orchard Marina Breakwater
After stops in Portland, Mukilteo and Port Orchard U-S Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is heading for Clark County where Railroad Safety is among beneficiaries of federal spending.
“We’re going to make sure there’s a rising tide of resources” Buttigieg told a crowd in Port Orchard after announcing the feds would be contributing $10M toward the construction of a new breakwater badly damaged in a storm last December in the local marina.
In Washington alone more than 350 projects are considered candidates for a piece of President Biden’s $4.4B infrastructure plan. Add more than 400 bridges and 5,000 miles of highway and you’ve got an expensive wish list.
“We need to make sure the system as a whole gets the backing it deserves after decades of nationwide under investments” Buttigieg says.
In April, the state legislature dedicated $1.3B for grooming the next generation of Mariners, maintenance crews and new hybrid ferries.
“We are building ferry boats” Governor Jay pledged to electrify the entire fleet of Washington State Ferries by 2035; but none have reached the water “We have contracts outstanding in the next few weeks” he said sharing the podium with Buttigieg “We hope to actually build these boats; but it is happening finally because we finally decided to make this investment.”
In Washougal, a $40 million federal investment went to the 32nd street underpass project. “What happens in that other Washington really matters here at home” U-S Senator Patty Murray admits she’s not subtle when it comes to lobbying for Washingtonians “And it makes a difference; look no further than Port Orchard. I’m really glad to see this and eight other major projects across our state get the federal support they deserve.”
That underpass eliminated one of those dangerous places where railroad tracks and roads intersect. It’s not sexy, but the positive returns come in ways most can’t imagine.
