Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 4, 2003
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Signs Public Works Bill to Create New Jobs Across the State

OLYMPIA – April 4, 2003 – Gov. Gary Locke today signed into law legislation authorizing $71.7 million worth of public works projects and creating new jobs across the state. The projects alone will create more than a thousand jobs and will also leverage other sources of funds, thereby creating thousands of jobs.

The bill (SHB 1063) contained an emergency clause that allows the legislation to take effect immediately, funding 27 water, sewer, road and bridge projects in the state. The projects were proposed by the Public Works Board, which is required to submit a proposed project list to the Legislature each year.

“This bill will create new jobs now while improving infrastructure for the future,” Locke said. “We need to move these dollars out as soon as possible to put people to work and grow our economy.”

Locke said his capital budget also creates thousands of new jobs, and he once again called on the Legislature to pass his budget as soon as possible. “We have an immediate opportunity to create jobs now, and we need to take advantage of the summer construction season,” he said.

Locke has been traveling the state for the past two months promoting his capital budget. It supports new private-sector jobs at an annual average of 13,400 construction and related jobs during the next two fiscal years, and 11,000 jobs in the following two fiscal years.

These jobs would come from the $2.5 billion in spending for new public-works funding, including $223 million in new construction at universities and $312 million at community and technical colleges through bonding against lottery revenue and general obligation bonds.

The public works legislation the governor signed today also increases the 2001-03 biennial appropriation to the Public Works Board by $58 million to $288 million ($206 million of this was used on last year’s project list). After spending the $71.7 million for this year’s project list, the board will have $11 million in remaining appropriation authority for planning and emergency projects.

The Legislature created the Public Works Assistance Account in 1985 to assist local governments and special purpose districts with financing the repair, replacement or improvement of bridges, roads, water and sewer systems, and solid waste and recycling facilities.

The revenue source for the account includes utility and sales taxes on water, sewer and garbage service, and a portion of the real estate excise tax. The account also receives revenue from repayments from past loans.

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A complete list of this year’s projects is attached.

1. Annapolis Water District Domestic Water Project – Decommission wells 6 and 7, including removing equipment and sealing both wells so that no water may flow freely between the aquifers or to the surface. ($318,750)

2. Clark County Road Project – Construct approximately seven-tenths of a mile of roadway, install erosion control materials, realign adjoining street and roads, install traffic control devices and signs, construct a bicycle path, make storm drainage improvements, replace culverts, install ground control devices, add sidewalks, and make other related improvements. ($1,400,000)

3. Highline Water District Domestic Water Project – Construct a secondary source for the district’s 600 zone, replace approximately 6,500-feet of pipe, construct approximately 1,000-feet of new transmission pipe, and install the equipment to operate the system. It will also rehabilitate a pump station and install the necessary systems to operate and control the pump. ($749,700)

4. Karcher Creek Sewer District Sanitary Sewer Project – Replace and relocate the Crownwood pump station. Necessary power and sewer line connections will be made. All associated facilities, equipment, controls, and related items will be constructed or installed to operate the station safely and efficiently. ($425,000)

5. Puyallup Road Project – Improve approximately 700-feet of roadway and construct approximately 1,000-feet of a new arterial street. Approximately 1,200-feet of water line will be replaced. Approximately 4,000-feet of storm pipe will be installed and approximately 700-feet of sewer line will be replaced. ($6,000,000)

6. Selah Sanitary Sewer Project – Upgrade its wastewater treatment system by continuing a project to construct sludge handling, treatment and dewatering facilities. The project includes the construction of these facilities, buildings to house the facilities, and systems to handle the wastewater. Other equipment and materials necessary to operate and manage the facilities will be installed. ($1,128,400)

7. Williams Lake Sewer District #2 Sanitary Sewer Project – Design and construct new septic tank effluent sewer collection and transport system at the east end of Williams Lake. ($876,800)

8. Yakima Domestic Water Project – Improve its water system by constructing a coagulation plant, rehabilitate and upgrade the filter system, upgrade storage facilities, and install a generation system. All associated controls and related equipment will be installed. ($2,694,500)

9. Friday Harbor Sanitary Sewer Project – Construct a new secondary wastewater treatment plant. Facilities, equipment, material, controls and related items will be constructed or installed to run the plant at optimum performance. ($2,000,000)

10. Lake Chelan Reclamation District Sanitary Sewer Project – Replace or rehabilitate approximately 30,000-feet of collector mains, replace five lift stations, upgrade telemetry and odor control facilities, install emergency generators, upgrade approximately 1,600 side sewer services and resurface roadway as necessary. ($5,376,050)

11. Val Vue Sewer District Sanitary Sewer Project – Will remedy problems associated with leaking manholes, rehabilitation of sewer mains, installing emergency generators, installing sewer lines, and replacement of side sewers. Other related equipment and material will be installed as necessary to reduce infiltration of storm water and to ensure optimum performance. ($1,301,350)

12. Spokane Sanitary Sewer Project – Rehabilitate the main line of its sanitary sewer system in the Central Business District. Approximately 36 pipe sections will be rehabilitated over a three-year period. Other associated improvements will be made as needed. ($901,000)

13. Karcher Creek Sewer District Sanitary Sewer Project – Design and construct a replacement collection system in the Beach Drive service area. The project will replace approximately 5,400-feet of lateral sewer pipe. A new sewer main will be constructed to convey sewage from the pump station to the treatment plant. Other associated equipment and material will be installed. ($807,500)

14. Mount Vernon Sanitary Sewer Project – Install approximately 500-feet of outfall pipe to the wastewater treatment system. Other related equipment and material will be installed to ensure system works as designed. ($1,000,000)

15. City of Camas Road Project – Reconstruct and improve approximately two and one-tenths miles of roadway. Improvements include adding lanes, turn lanes, bike lanes, sidewalks and related signage, lighting, erosion control and other components associated with a major urban arterial. ($3,000,000)

16. Richland Domestic Water Project – Install water mains, hydrants, control valves and related equipment. Decommissioned lines will be sealed. Lines to the meters will be replaced. All sites disturbed by the project will be rehabilitated. ($8,755,000)

17. City of Everett Sanitary Sewer Project – Install pumps and wells to move and stage effluent, install transmission pipes, install collection pipes, recondition existing pipe as needed, install at least one railroad casing system and install other equipment and material necessary to complete the transition to the Puget Sound outfall. ($5,490,000)

18. City of Cle Elum Sanitary Sewer Project – Construct a regional wastewater treatment facility to serve the city of Cle Elum, the city’s urban growth area, the town of South Cle Elum, and a master planned resort. Build or install all of the associated piping, storage and treatment facilities. Construct or install related equipment. ($1,000,000)

19. Douglas County Sewer District 1 Sanitary Sewer Project – Construct approximately two miles of a sewer interceptor line, 4,500-feet of gravity-fed sewer lines, a 250-gallon-a-minute lift station and 5,800-feet of force main (all figures are approximate). The district will install controls and telemetry necessary to manage the system and will repair all damage to the roadway. ($1,936,050)

20. Peshastin Water District Domestic Water Project – Replace approximately four miles of distribution and transmission lines throughout the district. Two wells will be rehabilitated, sources meters will be installed, electrical and telemetry systems will be installed, a new pump station will be constructed, and a new reservoir will be created. ($1,314,600)

21. Seattle Bridge Project – Construct new approaches to the north and south ends of the Fremont Bridge and replace electrical and mechanical equipment. Other related improvements necessary to enhance public safety and use of the bridge will be made as part of this project. ($10,000,000)

22. City of Bremerton Sanitary Sewer Project – Design and construct the improvements necessary to virtually eliminate the combined sewer overflow that affects Anderson Cove. Approximately 12 separate improvements to the flow diversion process will be implemented as a result of the design work. ($475,000)

23. Cowlitz County Public Utility District 1 Domestic Water Project – Replace approximately 50,000-feet of waterline on several streets within the Upper Ostrander service area. Install fire hydrants and other water line related equipment, replace a reservoir roof and make other related system improvements. ($491,661)

24. City of Bonney Lake Domestic Water Project – Construct a water treatment facility that includes a disinfection system. The project also includes the installation of water mains. Corrosion control facilities will be constructed, including storage tanks, pumps, metering and related equipment. ($1,174,700)

25. City of Battle Ground Road Project Rehabilitate and improve approximately one mile of West Main Street. Four through lanes will be upgraded, a center turn lane will be installed, and bicycle paths will be constructed along with curbs and sidewalks. Water and sewer facilities running under the street will be upgraded and storm water drainage will be improved. Traffic controls and signs will be installed as needed. ($2,000,000)

26. City of Enumclaw Sanitary Sewer Project – Upgrade and expand its wastewater treatment plant by modifying the headworks, adding a clarifier, constructing aeration basins, adding anaerobic basins and clarifiers, constructing chemical facilities, installing dewatering facilities, enlarging the laboratory, increasing plant capacity, and modifying or upgrading related facilities and equipment. ($9,250,000)

27. West Richland Sanitary Sewer Project – Install approximately 32,000-feet of sewer pipe, install access sites, decommission a lagoon, install a lift station, construct a lined irrigation canal crossing, repair roadway disturbed by the project, and install equipment needed to ensure the system operates as designed. ($1,800,000)

Total Project Cost: $71,666,061

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