Pierce County residents and businesses will stand to benefit from the state transportation budget signed May 13 by Gov. Chris Gregoire in Tacoma.
The signing took place at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center.
Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy thanked Gregoire’s administration, legislators, stakeholders and staff for their hard work that led to approval of a state transportation budget that’s expected to preserve and create tens of thousands of jobs.
“We’re honored that Gov. Gregoire chose to sign this historic legislation here in Pierce County, where so much work is set to be done to improve the movement of people and freight,” McCarthy said. “The governor has demonstrated steady leadership and a willingness to tackle controversial and complex issues in a very challenging budget climate.”
Highlights of the transportation plan that pertain locally include:
• widening of state Route 410 between Bonney Lake and Buckley.
• purchasing property for the future expansion of SR 167.
• Making other improvements to roads, bridges and railroad tracks.
After taking office, McCarthy organized more than 100 representatives of local government, business, labor, Indian tribes and environmental groups to unite to make sure Pierce County maintained a level of state funding that is appropriate for Washington state’s second-largest county.
“This coalition of stakeholders made a huge difference,” McCarthy said. “They signed letters. They made phone calls. They spoke with one powerful voice. Legislators told us that this coalition was very effective.”
Local people on the coalition were Mayor David Enslow and Deputy Mayor Steve Allsop, Councilman Matt Richardson, Councilwoman Cindy Hochstatter, Councilman Curt Brown, Councilman Randy Hynet and Councilman Leroy Goff, all of Sumner; Executive Director Lora Butterfield of the Bonney Lake Chamber of Commerce; Executive Director Sally Zeiger Hanson of the Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce; President and CEO Patrick Kuo of Cascadia; and Dan McReynolds of Parametrix in Sumner.
