Your port-focused transportation update: July 2, 2021

By Chris Herman

Senior Director of Trade and Transportation

Invest Act Passes the House

As Congress wraps up work before the long holiday weekend, the House of Representatives passed the “Investing for a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation” (INVEST) Act. The legislation updates the nation’s surface transportation policy—"Fixing America’s Surface Transportation” (FAST) Act was passed in 2015. WPPA has been in contact with our federal delegation on the INVEST Act, and will continue to advocate for increased funding for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, increased flexibility for freight formula funding, and work to maintain Senator Cantwell’s grade crossing elimination program.

Washington Receives over $100 M in INFRA-grant awards

The US Department of Transportation released the full list of projects funded through the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program. Washington was well represented with funding for two projects. The City of Wenatchee received $92.4M for the Apple Capital Loop, a series of individual projects designed to improve mobility by creating a loop and bypass. The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority is a partner on this project. This project was the single largest recipient of the 24 projects awarded in this round of INFRA.

The West Seattle Bridges Rehabilitation and Strengthening project was also awarded $11.3 million in funding. The high-rise portion of the bridge has been closed since early 2000 when significant cracking of the structure was identified. Both the Port of Seattle and the Northwest Seaport Alliance are recognized project partners as improvements planned for the lower span of the bridge will provide improved access to the Terminal 5 which is currently under construction and scheduled to be opened in 2022.

WPPA to launch weekly “Transportation Thursday” Blog

With important transportation-related legislation advancing in Washington DC and discussions here in Olympia taking shape about the possibility of a special session to advance new funding for transportation, WPPA will keep you informed through our new blog series, Transportation Thursday. The series is designed to keep you up to speed about the fast-changing conversations in the transportation space while providing you with information you can use to increase your ports advocacy and outreach. Look for Transportation Thursday on the Manifest Blog starting July 8th.