News & Events

March 17, 2005

CONTACT:

Carl Young, Interim Director of Communications
425.352.8256
cyoung@cascadia.edu

CASCADIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SEES MAJOR GAIN IN RECENT FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION VOTE

Bothell, WA - Cascadia Community College.

Funding for a critical infrastructure project on the campus of UW Bothell and Cascadia Community College has passed a milestone. The Transportation Equity Act (H.R. 3), passed by the House of Representatives, includes $3 million for the improvements.

Dr. Brinton Sprague, Interim President of Cascadia Community College, stated “We are extremely gratified to see the federal government step forward with significant support.” He welcomed the news as “timely confirmation” of the importance of the project to access to higher education in northeast King and south Snohomish Counties.

“The legislature in Olympia is creating their budget this week,” Dr. Sprague continued. “This commitment from the federal government should help focus attention on the project.” The issue is of urgent concern to the co-located institutions, he said, “Our ability to grow with the area and serve additional students will be blocked completely until the ramp is built to accommodate traffic onto campus,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee announced that the House of Representatives had included $3 million for the project on SR-522 and I-405. The legislation will next be considered by the U.S. Senate.

Meanwhile, Washington Governor Gregoire is expected to issue a Washington state 2005-2007 budget proposal in the very near future. Campus advocates and community members have voiced support for the project for many months and they have expressed hope that the federal money will build momentum for the required state allocation of $11.6 million. The access ramps and freeway improvements at the south end of the UWB/Cascadia campus will relieve congestion in the city of Bothell and on Beardslee Blvd., currently the main campus access.

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