WASHINGTON – A huge federal spending bill required to keep the government operating past midnight Friday contains numerous projects to benefit both Clallam and Jefferson counties.
The $555 billion spending bill passed Congress on Wednesday and headed for the desk of President Bush, who was expected to sign the measure.
Among recipients are the Port Angeles International Gateway Transportation Center, the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend, the Elwha River restoration as part of the dams removal project and a pedestrian bridge across the Elwha River that will be part of the Olympic Discovery Trail.
Also earmarked is money for Jefferson Transit to buy three new buses, while Clallam Transit System would get partial funding for a new bus.
The bill includes another $343,000 for the Port Angeles International Gateway Transportation Center project, a project that has received more than $4 million in federal money.
The federal money would help close a $3.1 million funding gap identified in March 2007 for the $13.8 million project.
A final funding outline for the project will be presented to the City Council sometime next year.
Primo Construction of Carlsborg began construction in June along Lincoln Street between Railroad Avenue and Front Street. Work is scheduled to finish in the late summer 2008.
The project will include a transit building with a public plaza and bus lane plus a two-tiered parking garage, clock tower and pavilion roof covering the plaza.
