Summary

King County and eight regional partners today formally applied for a $36.2 million grant from the federal TIGER II program for the remaining funds needed to replace the old South Park Bridge.

Story

King County and eight regional partners today formally applied for a $36.2 million grant from the federal TIGER II program for the remaining funds needed to replace the old South Park Bridge.

“We got the message that we needed to show a strong local partnership to leverage federal funds, and in just two months we’ve assembled at least $95 million that clearly demonstrates our local commitment,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “We have a powerful story. We’ve made our case. Now we look to the federal government to join us in funding a new South Park Bridge.”

A successful TIGER II application to the U.S. Department of Transportation would complete the $131 million financing package necessary for construction of a new bridge on 14th/16th Avenue South spanning the Duwamish Waterway.

“I’m optimistic about the outcome of this application because we’ve put together such a strong regional coalition and have so many voices of support. It has truly been a team effort, and I want to thank all of our partners, stakeholders, and community members who have come together to get us this far,” said Metropolitan King County Councilmember Jan Drago. “This bridge is absolutely vital to our region. It’s an economic lifeline. We need this bridge, and that message will be heard loud and clear in Washington.”

The Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER II) application was submitted on behalf of King County, the state of Washington, the cities of Seattle and Tukwila, the Port of Seattle, the Puget Sound Regional Council, the state Transportation Improvement Board, the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board, and The Boeing Company. The application is accompanied by 1500 signatures and letters of support from local and regional leaders, business owners and residents in the greater South Park community.

Weeks of intensive work with agency partners and the New South Park Bridge Coalition have produced a TIGER II application that focuses on meeting national goals – such as the movement of freight and the needs of economically disadvantaged neighborhoods – and the Obama Administration’s goal of rewarding projects that promote multiple modes of transportation and leverage federal investment to support local partnerships.

A replacement for the 81-year old South Park Bridge has been a top priority for Executive Constantine. Over the past several months, the Executive has forged key partnerships, met with state and congressional leaders and traveled to Washington D.C. to emphasize the importance of a new bridge. Those efforts have resulted in firm pledges of funding totaling $95 million, with other funds pending:

• King County – $30 million
• State of Washington – $20 million
• City of Seattle – $15 million
• Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) – $15 million
• State Transportation Improvement Board – $10 million
• Port of Seattle – $5 million
• Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB) – up to $5 million (pending approval by full board and state legislature)
• Federal DOT-HUD funding bill - $3 million (pending Congressional approval)

While the County awaits a decision on its grant application, crews will continue demolition of the old bridge and prepare adjacent areas for construction. In late August to early September, the bridge’s leaves will be removed and barged to a remote site for further demolition and salvage. The county’s bridge engineers are also putting the paperwork in place for contractors to bid on construction should the TIGER II application be successful.

Announcement of TIGER II grant awards is expected in October. About $400 million in grants will be available nationwide for transportation projects.