PORT ANGELES — An unexpected million-dollar infusion of cash guarantees construction of a downtown transportation project and save city taxpayers money, a key project proponent said Monday.
A $388 billion spending bill approved by Congress over the weekend includes $1 million for the Port Angeles International Gateway Transportation Center, which will transform a downtown highway corner into a public plaza, bus station, visitor center, park and ride lot and underground parking garage.
The project will transform a giant hole at the corner of Front and Lincoln streets — where U.S. Highway 101 West turns — into a hub for buses, taxis, ferry passengers and visitors, said U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, who secured the funds in the spending bill that’s part of the new federal budget.
$1.5 million OK’d earlier
The funds are added to $1.5 million in previous appropriations for Gateway, said Port Angeles City Councilwoman Karen Rogers, who heads the project’s design review committee.
“We have ourselves a project,” Rogers said Monday night after speaking with Murray earlier in the day.
Depending on the outcome of property condemnation proceedings — a court hearing is scheduled for Feb. 22 — work on the Gateway project could start next year, Rogers said.
The $1 million appropriation brings the amount of funds collected for the $10.2 million project to $8.6 million.
The city of Port Angeles is expected to cover the remaining $1.6 million, through capital reserves and possibly a bond issue.
The City Council will be discussing a strategy soon, Rogers said.
