Stimulus News You Can Use is one way WSDOT is working to keep transportation stakeholders updated on the fast-moving effort to put people to work and improve the state’s infrastructure. Each edition will have information on project delivery and highlights. Sign up to receive stimulus news e-mail updates. Visit the Newsletter Archive for earlier editions.

This week's stimulus snapshot

• Washington received $31 million for high speed rail projects 
• WSDOT awarded last state Recovery Act highway project 
• Three more local stimulus projects completed 
• Ferry County and city of Spokane advertise projects 
• Important stimulus dates 
• Useful Recovery Act web links 
• Stimulus data table update
  

Washington received $31 million more for high speed rail projects – As part of a statewide push to enhance high speed rail transportation, Washington will receive $31 million in federal funds to improve passenger stations in Seattle and Tukwila and ease rail congestion in Mount Vernon, and develop the State Rail Plan. When combined with $590 million in federal stimulus funds awarded earlier this year, this latest grant brings Washington’s total funding for high speed rail to $621 million. See the news release for more details.

Last state highway project awarded – On October 28, WSDOT awarded the US 395/Lee Rd to I-90 Junction – Paving project in Spokane County. The project was awarded to Central Washington Asphalt for about $4.7 million, 23% below the engineer’s estimate. All 49 individual state highway projects have been awarded to contractors and 37 are complete.

Three more local Recovery Act highway projects completed –

• Pend Oreille County – Deer Valley Road
• Ferry County – Bridge Creek Top East
• Hoquiam – Citywide Pedestrian improvements 

Two more local Recovery Act highway projects advertised –

• Ferry County – Countywide Guardrail
• Spokane – Hatch Road

Federal Transportation Blog highlights this week – Check the WSDOT Federal Issues blog for recent items on transportation revenue proposals, the impacts of the November 2 elections, the Obama administration’s transportation plans, and the planned transportation reauthorization bill.

WSDOT Highlight of the Week

Two roundabouts set to open this month on the I-82 Valley Mall Boulevard project

WSDOT is ready for the eager holiday shoppers to soon flood Union Gap and local businesses to purchase holiday items. As promised, WSDOT and contractor crews will have two of three roundabouts and the new I-82 eastbound on- and off-ramps open to traffic by Nov. 17.

Construction on the I-82 Valley Mall Boulevard Interchange Improvements project started in April. In just six months, contractor crews have demolished an overpass, built a detour, relocated traffic, placed more than 4,000 cubic yards of asphalt, poured more than 31,600 tons of concrete, built new curbs and sidewalks, relocated water and sewer lines, built two new roundabouts, and built new on- and off-ramps.

However, the project isn’t complete. When construction resumes in the spring, crews will build the third and final roundabout and the new I-82 westbound off-ramp, rebuild the new I-82 eastbound overpass, and demolish and rebuild the new I-82 westbound overpass. Crews will also work on the city of Union Gap’s portion of this project, which includes reconstructing the intersection of Main Street and Valley Mall Boulevard to provide four lanes with left and right turn lanes, a bus pull-out, street lights, and a traffic signal.

This is a crucial project for the Yakima Valley that will encourage economic growth and development for the cities of Union Gap and Yakima. By fall 2011, drivers will enjoy smoother access to and from I-82, less congestion and delay on Valley Mall Boulevard, and wider bridges on I-82 that will accommodate future growth.

The gas tax was originally the major source of construction funding for this $34.3 million project, which includes the purchase of right of way and project design costs. Due to revenue shortfall, construction of this improvement was delayed six years. Last spring, the Governor and Legislature selected the project to receive federal stimulus funding, providing the necessary dollars to deliver the project on its original schedule. 
 
Websites of interest

WSDOT ARRA website: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/funding/stimulus
WSDOT Federal Transportation Issues blog: http://wsdotfederalfunding.blogspot.com
Washington recovery website: http://www.recovery.wa.gov/
Federal recovery website: http://www.recovery.gov/
FHWA recovery website: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/economicrecovery/index.htm
Federal Transit Administration recovery website: www.fta.dot.gov/recovery
Federal Railroad Administration recovery website: http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/2153
Federal Aviation Administration recovery website: http://www.faa.gov/recovery
OMB recovery website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/recovery_default/

This week by the numbers (project dollars in millions)