OLYMPIA – The capital budget signed today by Gov. Chris Gregoire sets in motion more than $45 million in projects in and around Olympia and Thurston County.

“Each of these projects has a dual benefit,” said Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Thurston County. “They address longstanding needs, and they put people to work and get money flowing through our district at a time when we need it the most. That’s why I worked so hard to make sure they were funded.”

Fraser, the vice chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee and Senate leader on the capital budget, said the projects reflect the three priorities the Legislative used in choosing what to fund:

• Jobs now — projects that are “ready to go” and will put people to work now
• Quality communities — local infrastructure projects that maintain public safety and community vitality
• An education infrastructure for the future — full funding of K-12 commitments and cutting-edge research facilities to position state universities for the economy of tomorrow

“These are projects that position our city and county and region for the future,” Fraser said. “They will help our economy recover today and prosper in the decades to come.”

In addition, the budget fully funds the K-12 school construction assistance program so that projects funded with local school construction levies will receive state financial assistance.

Area projects include:

• $262 million for the new Department of Information Services building and data center in Olympia
• $11.4 million for renovations and repairs at South Sound Community College
• $9.7 million for renovations to the John C. O’Brien Building on the Capital Campus
• $9 million for improvements and renovations to buildings at The Evergreen State College
• $3.6 million for Percival Landing in Olympia
• $2 million to design a new state office building at the the Pro Arts block in Olympia near the old courthouse
• $1.5 million for a variety of road and other projects by the Department of Natural Resources
• $1 million for the new Hands On Children’s Museum plus $400,000 for toxic cleanup at the new museum site in Olympia
• Wildlife and Recreation Program projects for the area include:
  • $1.3 million to preserve Woodard Bay Riparian habitat
  • $1.1 million to preserve Black River Ranch
  • $750,000 to acquire property at Ward Lake Park
  • $509,175 to preserve Woodard Bay
  • $57,500 to expand Tenino Quarry Park
• $1.2 million to preserve the Tilley Road Wetlands
• $1 million for toxic cleanup on Olympia’s new West Bay Park along Budd Inlet
• $800,000 for toxic cleanup at the site for the new Olympia city hall
• $304,000 for the State Capital Museum & Outreach Center
• $235,000 to complete renovations at the Harlequin Theater in Olympia
• $100,000 for improvements to the historic Bigelow House in Olympia
• $100,000 to develop a disposal plan for Department of Fish & Wildlife property in downtown Olympia near the Farmer’s Market
• $62,000 for the New Market Vocational Skills Center
• $52,000 for facility preservation by Olympia Work Release

Fraser also supported a parks opt-out plan that provides funds to keep state parks open — including Tolmie State Park on Nisqually Reach, which was high on the list of parks flagged for closure if a new funding mechanism had not been approved.

In addition to the projects funded in the capital budget, the governor is expected to sign a transportation budget that includes:

• $3.4 million for a noise wall along I-5, Queets Drive East and Tanglewilde in Lacey
• $4.7 million in the 2011/13 biennium for a noise wall along I-5, 14th Avenue and Thompson Place in Lacey (this could start sooner if federal stimulus funds become available)
• $3 million in for the 2009/11 biennium plus $3.5 million for the 2011/13 biennium in regional mobility grants for a park & ride lot in Hawks Prairie
• $2.8 million for bicycle lanes along I-5 and Martin Way in Lacey
• $2.8 million to pave I-5 from Tumwater Boulevard to the Maytown interchange
• $1.6 million for repairs to the I-5 Nisqually River Bridge
• $1. 4 million for safety improvements to the northbound ramp at I-5 and Tumwater Boulevard in Tumwater
• $990,000 in federal stimulus funds for rail enhancements at the Port of Olympia
• $734,000 to develop a coordinated, area-wide approach to transit, park & ride and other commute trip reduction programs around the Capital area
• $629,000 to improve and repaint the Capital Boulevard Bridge over I-5
• $566,000 for intermodal/outermodal infrastructure enhancements at the Port of Olympia
• $250,000 for a study of regional origin and destination traffic going to and from northern Thurston County to serve as the basis for future transportation improvements

Fraser noted that the projects not only will stimulate the local economy but generate sales tax revenue for local governments. Of every dollar spent on construction, a local 1-cent sales tax applies. For projects inside city limits, the city receives 85 percent of that 1 cent and the county receives 15 percent. For projects within unincorporated areas, the county receives the full 1 cent.