Larsen’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act Enhancing Community Connectivity and Accessibility in the Pacific Northwest

Rep. Rick Larsen Applauds USDOT’s $3.3 Billion Funding Announcement

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), the lead Democrat on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, commended the U.S. Department of Transportation’s allocation of $3.3 billion through the Reconnecting Communities Program and the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program. This funding, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, will support 132 projects nationwide, including five projects in Washington state and Oregon totaling $561,524,356.

Impact of the Funding on Pacific Northwest Communities

Rep. Larsen expressed his enthusiasm for the $3.3 billion investment, stating that it will rectify past infrastructure inadequacies and enhance accessibility and safety in underserved communities. The funding will enable improvements in transportation infrastructure, job creation, economic opportunities, and better community connectivity in the Pacific Northwest and across the country.

Washington State Projects

Washington

· $69,830,356 for Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority’s Reconnecting Communities Project

o This grant will fund the design and construction of two key transit centers on the new Stride Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line on I-405 South in King County, Washington.

o The project includes the Tukwila International Boulevard Stride BRT Station and the South Renton Transit Center, enhancing multimodal transportation options and community connections.

· $2,000,000 for the City of Seattle’s I-5 Lid Project

o The I-5 Lid Project aims to address environmental concerns and land scarcity in the Center City neighborhoods of Seattle by creating public spaces and affordable housing opportunities.

· $1,300,000 for the City of Tacoma’s I-5 Crossings Study

o The study will identify ways to improve safety and mobility across I-5 in Tacoma, focusing on enhancing community connections and promoting environmental justice.

Oregon State Projects

Oregon

· $450,000,000 for the Oregon Department of Transportation’s I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project

o The project in Portland includes a highway cover, pedestrian and bicycle bridge, and safety enhancements to reconnect a historically Black community.

· $38,394,000 for the City of Portland’s Broadway Main Street and Supporting Connections Project

o This project will revamp N/NE Broadway and Weidler Streets to support equitable development and restoration in the historic Black neighborhood of Lower Albina.

Further Insights

So far, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has invested $8.2 billion in Washington state and $4.9 billion in Oregon. Learn more about the impact of the BIL on Washington here and on Oregon here.

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