The new Mukilteo ferry terminal got a big boost in funding courtesy of the federal government.
On Monday, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., announced Monday the securement of a $10 million grant that will be put toward the terminal’s construction.
“Great news today for the commuters, businesses and visitors who rely on the Mukilteo ferry terminal: $10 million in federal funding is on its way to the project,” said Larsen, in a press release.
“This federal investment will help pay for a new terminal that will improve safety, traffic congestion and ease of access, making the terminal safer and more efficient for the people and businesses who depend on this route to get around.”
The money comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation, specifically the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) competitive grant program, which was launched in 2009, partly thanks to Murray.
According to the department’s website, since then more than $4.1 billion in six rounds of TIGER grants have funded projects across the country.
An additional $10 million brings the Mukilteo multimodal facility’s earmarked funding total to $26.1 million.
The estimated cost is $129 million, and the project is expected to be completed by 2019.
Demolition began on the existing pier at the new site, less than a mile northeast of the ferry terminal current location.
The Clinton-to-Mukilteo ferry route is one of the state’s busiest marine highways. In 2014, it carried nearly 4 million riders.
Larsen worked for a decade with local, state and federal stakeholders to transfer the property for the new terminal from the Air Force to the Port of Everett. The transfer was completed in October 2013.
The congressman wrote a letter of support for the state’s grant application and has championed ferries and highways improvements as a means of improving the economy.
“Investing in transportation infrastructure like the Mukilteo ferry terminal creates jobs and keeps our economy moving,” Larsen said in the news release.
