The House Transportation Committee yesterday completed its mark-up of HR 3550, the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, better known as the TEA-LU. This measure reauthorizes federal surface transportation assistance for state and local governments. When it was reported out of committee, the measure included language authorizing $14 million in projects that would go directly to the 9th District, due to the efforts by Congressman Smith. Smith requested many quality projects be included in the TEA-LU bill and he was happy to see that 10 were included in the final bill. The measure now heads to the full House of Representatives for a vote.
“Investment in our infrastructure is critical to the continued growth of our economy,” said Smith. “By creating these opportunities in the Puget Sound region, we are creating jobs and improving the ability to move products and people in our area making it more productive and economically feasible to do business here.”
The following is a list of projects secured for the Ninth District:
State Route 167 - $2.5 million
Creates a new freeway from State Route 509 (Port of Tacoma) to State Route 161 (Puyallup)
Cross Base Highway - $1.5 million
Creates a new highway from I-5 to State Route 7 located between Fort Lewis and McChord AFB
Yelm 510/507 - $2.5 million
Creates an alternative route to two existing state highways that bisect Yelm, Washington
Renton 405/167 - $2 million
Rebuilds State Route 167 and the I-405 interchange and adds additional lanes to relieve congestion
Tukwila Urban Access - $1 million
Addresses necessary improvements to Southcenter Parkway in Tukwila to relieve congestion
Burien State Route 518 - $1 million
Creates interchange improvements and the addition of one travel lane on a portion of the corridor
Port of Tacoma Road - $500,000
Constructs a second left turn lane from westbound Pacific Highway to Port of Tacoma Road
Tacoma Lincoln Avenue - $1 million
Elevates Lincoln Avenue by constructing a viaduct over existing railroad lines
Valley Avenue/70th Avenue - $1 million
Widens both 70th and Valley avenues in Pierce County
Kent Willis UP Tracks - $1 million
Provides grade separation at the existing railroad tracks at the UP tracks