Sen. Murray Announces Port of Everett Transportation Grant: Will Help Already-Thriving Port Compete in Global Marketplace, Support Local and Regional Economy

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that the Port of Everett will receive a $10 million U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) competitive grant to modernize the South Terminal through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program, a program championed by Senator Murray in Congress. In June, Senator Murray sent a letter to DOT urging support for the Port of Everett's grant application, citing the project's importance to the local and regional economy. The $10 million grant will help complete the South Terminal modernization project at the Port and double its rail capacity, which will ensure the Port can support larger vessels and heavier cargo in order to better serve their customers and compete in the global marketplace.

"With tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of exports, there's no doubt the Port of Everett is a critical part of our regional economy, which is why I was proud to stand with the Port and why I'm so glad it received this important investment," Senator Murray said. "I helped create the TIGER program because it's all about making our communities and our transportation systems safer, more efficient, and able to meet the demands of the 21st century economy. I applaud the Port of Everett on its strong application, and I will keep fighting in the Senate to make sure the TIGER program has the resources it needs to invest in infrastructure in Everett and around Washington state."

"This grant will make critical improvements to one of Washington's most strategic seaports, ensuring the Port of Everett remains globally competitive as demand grows for more efficient transport of freight throughout the world. The Port supports $24.7 billion in trade a year and plays a critical role in the region's aerospace and energy manufacturing industries," said Senator Cantwell.

"On behalf of the Port of Everett, we want to thank Sen. Patty Murray for her ongoing support and advocacy of the Port of Everett and trade in Washington State," Port of Everett CEO Les Reardanz said. "We also want to acknowledge our partners that supported this project, and the U.S. Department of Transportation for recognizing the tremendous value the South Terminal Modernization project brings to our region. With this federal investment, we will be able to modernize our facilities to continue to support the aerospace, manufacturing and construction industries in the region."

The Port of Everett is a strategic port that supports Washington state's aerospace, construction, manufacturing, and energy industries, with nearly $25 billion in exports annually and supporting more than 35,000 jobs. TIGER is a unique, cost-effective program that helps state and local agencies tackle complex transportation and economic development challenges in their communities. This TIGER grant is made possible by investments Senator Murray fought to include in the FY2016 Omnibus, which Congress passed in December 2015. Senator Murray also secured $525 million for the TIGER program in the FY2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill that passed the Senate in May, which is a $25 million increase over FY2016 funding.

Since Senator Murray created the TIGER program in 2009, it has awarded nearly $4.6 billion to 381 projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, including 134 projects to support rural and tribal communities. Of that total, Washington state has received $229 million to support 15 projects. These include the Tacoma LINK Expansion, a new ferry terminal in Mukilteo, the North Spokane Corridor in Spokane, the Mercer Corridor Redevelopment project in Seattle, the South Park Bridge Replacement in King County, the West Vancouver Freight Access project at the Port of Vancouver, improvements to I-5 to relieve congestion around Joint-Base Lewis-McChord, and modernization of Terminal 46 at the Port of Seattle.

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