OLYMPIA — Two-year transportation and construction budget agreements expected to be sent to the governor’s desk this weekend would advance the North Spokane Corridor and build and renovate a series of buildings on Spokane college campuses.
The transportation budget agreement most notably includes $28 million for preliminary engineering and the purchase of right of way for a three-mile segment of the corridor that ultimately will provide a drivable segment of roadway from Wandermere to the Spokane River. Budget language also dictates that anticipated cost savings from portions of the North Spokane Corridor project already under development will provide the last $10 million needed to complete right of way purchases.
“In a difficult budget year in which there are virtually no new projects being funded, getting money for this additional phase is a major victory for Spokane,” said Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane. “We’re already making good progress on the corridor and this sustains critical momentum so that we can finish this segment and begin slashing commute times by 2015.”
“This is a big deal,” said Sen. Chris Marr, a Spokane Democrat and vice chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. “This positions us to finally live up to the promises laid out when the North Spokane Corridor was first envisioned more than half-a-century ago.”
The transportation budget agreement also includes $250,000 to build a right-turn lane for vehicles exiting U.S. 195 onto Cheney-Spokane Road. The project will improve visibility for motorists trying to turn left onto the highway at the dangerous intersection, where a teenage girl was killed in an accident in January.
The construction budget agreement is laden with Spokane projects including:
· Spokane Community College would get $30.7 million for a new Technical Education Building, $9.7 million to renovate an aging classroom building and $3.4 million to acquire half of a classroom building it currently is co-leasing with Eastern Washington University on the Riverpoint Campus.
· Spokane Falls Community College would get $27.8 million for a new chemistry and life science building and another $13.8 million to renovate its music building.
· Washington State University Spokane would get $4.3 million to design a biomedical and health sciences research and teaching facility at the Riverpoint Campus.
· More than $400,000 would support the construction of the Emmanuel Family Life Center in Spokane to house fitness, educational, addiction recovery and other programs.
· Spokane Public Radio would get $223,000 to purchase equipment to strengthen its signal in rural areas.
· $4.3 million would support projects to co-locate YMCA and YWCA programs in single facilities in Central and North Spokane.
· $500,000 would go to restoring historic features at the Spokane County Courthouse.
· $1.3 million would be provided to help expand the Northeast Community Center.
· $1 million would go toward improvements at the Airway Heights Water Treatment Plant.
· Up to $2.5 million in alternative financing would be authorized to support the renovation of the Mount Spokane Lodge.
The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn its 105-day session Sunday.
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For more information: Chris Mulick, Senate Democratic Communications 360-786-7535
For interviews: Sen. Lisa Brown 360-786-7604
Sen. Chris Marr 360-786-7610