Rep. Schrier Kicks Off 8th District Infrastructure Tour
WASHINGTON, DC – This week Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) kicked off her 8th District infrastructure tour, visiting projects that could be expanded with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that President Biden signed earlier this month.
"People often think of infrastructure as roads and bridges, and there is significant funding for them in the infrastructure law," said Rep. Schrier. "Infrastructure also means accessible high-speed internet, new water pipes, and easing the congestion at our ports. We expect millions of dollars to become available in the next few months for cities and towns to use to upgrade infrastructure. And I want to make sure they are prepared."
So far Rep. Schrier has visited the following sites. She is expected to visit many more projects in the coming months.
Sammamish Plateau Water District has been working on identifying and treating PFAS present in their groundwater wells. The proposed treatment plant would make drinking water safer for residents by removing these "forever chemicals". The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $4 billion to remove PFAS from drinking water.
Rep. Schrier visited the City of Auburn to look at improvements to Auburn Way South. These projects will improve traffic, pedestrian and cyclist safety, and access for residents along the road. The improvements are coordinated with a new elementary school to ensure students and parents can safely enter and exit campus. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will increase funding to local governments like City of Auburn for these important surface transportation projects.
In North Bend, Rep. Schrier visited Truck Town in North Bend, the only full-service truck stop between Ellensburg and the ports in Seattle and Tacoma. The city shoulders an increasingly heavy burden of traffic as trucks wait to go to the ports, or wait for Snoqualmie Pass to clear. There has been such a backup of trucks, that Truck Town can't accommodate them all, and now trucks are parking on the highway and North Bend streets. Federal infrastructure investment could help ease port congestion and also provide more safe places for drivers to rest.
The City of North Bend's Wastewater Treatment Plant is undergoing renovations to improve the treatment capacity, reduce plant odor, and increase the quality of water entering the Snoqualmie River. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's investment of $23.4B into water management will help with projects like this that aim to repair our aging infrastructure.