JOCsailings | Mar 27, 2009 12:23PM EDT
From JOCsailings
On March 24, Port of Seattle commissioners voted to invest an additional $17.2 million in the East Marginal Way grade separation project, a freight mobility improvement in South Seattle. This action brings to the port’s total investment to $18.8 million.
“For the Port to move more cargo and create more jobs, we must have a transportation system that can handle the growth,” said Commission President Bill Bryant. “This investment demonstrates the Port’s ongoing commitment to an efficient transportation system in Washington state.”
Improvements to East Marginal Way are part of a broader effort to improve freight mobility in the area. The larger plan includes improvements to the Spokane Street corridor and the eventual replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. The East Marginal Way grade separation project would improve access between port terminals, Union Pacific and BNSF rail yards, local manufacturers, and distribution warehouses.
Other funding sources for the $50 million project include federal grants, the Transportation Improvement Board, the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB), and contributions from the City of Seattle and rail partners. Delays to the project have resulted in significant increased costs; the port’s additional investment closes the existing funding gap and allows the project to proceed.