Clark County will receive millions more in funding for local projects in the state supplemental capital and transportation budgets passed by the Legislature.
In Washington, the state Legislature typically passes two-year budgets in odd years. In even years, the Legislature passes supplemental budgets to make adjustments and any additional appropriations. With state revenues up, the Legislature added money to both budgets and Clark County is getting a share.
“Please note that the budget news is good news across-the-board,” wrote city of Vancouver lobbyist Mark Brown in his newsletter.
The Legislature added $825 million to the two-year, $8.65 billion transportation budget in its supplemental. Ralph Thomas, spokesman for the state Office of Financial Management, said that much of that money is for additional compensation for state employees that was moved from the operating budget to the transportation budget.
However, the supplemental transportation budget adds $9.3 million to the $33 million originally designated for projects in Clark County in the two-year transportation budget. Most of the additional money increases funding for projects such as freight rail improvements and upgrades to the interstate and state highways.
Included in the additional funding is $500,000 for the Renaissance Trail repair project. Abbi Russell, communications manager for the Port of Vancouver, said in an email that the funding will be used for ground stabilization for the extension of the Renaissance Trail through Terminal 1 on the waterfront. The stabilization needs to be done in 2018 so that a new $40 million AC Hotel by Marriott can be constructed at the location.
The supplemental transportation moved up the funding timeline for improvements for the outdated Interstate 5 interchange at Northeast 179th Street and will now direct $500,000 to the project.
State Rep. Vicki Kraft, R-Vancouver, said that project will greatly help businesses and residents nearby.
“That is going to be a key change for the Discovery Corridor,” she said.
Also included in the supplemental transportation budget is a line for the replacement of the Interstate 5 bridge across the Columbia River. In the 2017 session, lawmakers passed a bill aimed at restarting talks with Oregon to replace the I-5 Bridge. The bill directed $350,000 for the inventory and cataloging of previous work done on the Columbia River Crossing project that was delivered in a report in December.
The supplemental budget reflects the $350,000 spent on the project. Last month, the Oregon Department of Transportation, submitted a list of projects to the metro regional government that includes $3.2 billion to “replace the I-5/Columbia River bridges and improve interchanges on I-5.”
“The major step forward is really aligning with our partner in Oregon by listing the projects,” said State Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver.
Capital budget
The $414 million supplemental capital budget is in addition to the $4.3 billion capital budget passed in January. The capital budget covers 2017-2018 but wasn’t passed until January of this year because it had previously been held up in the Legislature over a dispute over water rights.
The budget includes an adjustment to reflect that Clark College will not be pursuing $35 million in bonding authority for a new student recreation center.
The budget does include an additional $5.6 million for some new projects around the county, including $500,000 for Clinton & Gloria John Teen Club in Vancouver, and $1 million for the academic and physical education building at the Washington State Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss.
The Port of Vancouver is getting another $824,000 in the capital supplemental budget for ground stabilization for a portion of the Terminal 1 waterfront redevelopment project, in addition to funds in the transportation supplemental budget.
Russell said that when finished, the Terminal 1 project will provide a mix of office, commercial and residential developments.
“We’re very appreciative of our legislators’ support; it literally lays the groundwork for everything we’re trying to do at Terminal 1,” she said.
