Dec. 13, 2004

King County receives support for environment and transportation

Federal funds for salmon recovery, high-tech fuels, congestion relief

King County’s air quality, salmon recovery and traffic solutions will be getting a boost under the federal appropriations bill passed by Congress and detailed this week by Executive Ron Sims and County Council members.

Under the bill signed into law this week, $13.7 million has been earmarked for critical environmental and transportation projects sought by Executive Sims and the County Council through its 2005 Federal Agenda.

“The bill targets taxpayer funds to where the public has demanded action: supporting our region’s efforts in salmon recovery, cleaner air and traffic solutions,” said Sims, who credited the strategy’s success to the collaborative spirit between local leaders and the state’s Congressional delegation.

More than $4 million will be directed towards conservation and ongoing salmon recovery efforts in King County.

King County Council Legislative Steering Committee Co-chair Carolyn Edmonds praised the leadership of the state’s congressional delegation. “Our hardworking Senators and House members delivered on their promise to fund programs that preserve and protect critical habitat and help keep Washington’s air clean,” Edmonds said. “These provisions will help keep King County a great place to live, and I appreciate all their hard work on this legislation.”

King County Councilmember Dow Constantine added his appreciation to the congressional delegation for their work on the public’s behalf. "This bill reflects the environmental leadership of our Federal delegation," said Councilmember Constantine. "Their commitment to protecting Puget Sound and to salmon recovery is clearly reflected in the work they have done to secure federal funding for critical projects."

$400,000 will be used to support King County’s Molten Fuel Cell project, the nation’s largest wastewater fuel cell, designed to cleanly convert methane gas to energy at the county’s wastewater treatment facility in Renton.

“Congress is building on our significant local investments in clean water, clean air and efficient transportation,” said King County Council Chair Larry Phillips. “Government works best to serve citizens when we work together at the local, state and national levels to improve our communities and quality of life. This has been a great year of cooperative success in sustaining our natural environment and keeping people moving.”

"I am thrilled to see more federal support for King County's important salmon recovery, air quality and congestion relief efforts," said Councilmember Jane Hague. "This funding complements the work we are doing on the Eastside, particularly the continued improvement along Denny Creek which is a major urban unincorporated site for salmon recovery. We have also taken tremendous steps through public-private partnerships to preserve legacy forests that protect habitat for salmon in the Juanita area."

Transportation related support will come in form of a $2 million appropriation for expansion of the county’s innovative Intelligent Transportation System (ITS). The ITS program uses signal synchronization, traffic cameras, and fiber-optic communications to improve traffic flow and decrease congestion on major road corridors in King County.

King County Metro will receive another $5 million towards the nation’s largest single order of 235 hybrid clean-air buses. These buses reduce Carbon Monoxide emissions by 90 percent over the cleanest buses now in Metro’s fleet.

"The federal appropriations for hybrid buses and traffic signalization will allow King County to improve both our ability to move traffic and our air quality," said Dwight Pelz, Chair of the County Council’s Transportation Committee.

Highlights of the federal appropriations bill include:

Environment/Salmon Recovery

$1.25 million for the Green/Duwamish Ecosystem Restoration Program;
$450,000 for the Lake Washington/Ship Canal Ecosystem Study;
$525,000 for the Puget Sound Nearshore Marine Habitat Study;
$1.5 million for the Maury Island Conservation Initiative; and
$450,000 for the Puyallup River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study.

Clean Air/Energy

$400,000 for the Molten Fuel Cell Project to convert methane gas to energy.

Transportation

$2 million for the county’s ongoing Traffic Signal Synchronization project which has helped significantly improve traffic flows; and
$5 million for continuation of the Metro’s purchase of low-emission hybrid buses.