Murray secures Senate funding for PUD project

"Working in a bipartisan fashion and facing cuts across the board, I am pleased to have maintained federal funding for Washington state's urgent transportation needs," Murray said. "This federal support will help ease congestion and improve safety by investing in public transportation, highways, and other critical transportation infrastructure across Washington state."

The overall funding package includes money for a major infrastructure project in Klickitat County: The Klickitat Public Utility District will get $1,485,000 to help pay for a new wastewater treatment plant in Klickitat.

"We just found out last Friday," said Lorraine Reynolds, water-wastewater manager for the PUD. "We got a call from Sen. Murray's office telling us the good news. It's a very big boost. It's half of what we need."

The requested funds will help the PUD pay to replace a 1940s-era treatment plant, while also maintaining relatively low sewer rates for Klickitat residents.

The facility will also help to protect the Klickitat Wild and Scenic River, and provide part of the infrastructure needed for economic development in the community.

Even with the major grant, the PUD will need additional funding to build the new facility, which is estimated to cost approximately $3 million.

"The plant was built in 1946, and it has been upgraded over the years," Reynolds added. "But it's like having an old car. You have to replace it because it's old and outdated and can't keep up with the rules and regulations set by the Washington Department of Ecology."

In addition to the wastewater plant funding, Washington will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in federal highway and transit formula funding. The state will receive $503.6 million in Federal Highway Administration grants and $101 million in Federal Transit Administration grants to address transportation issues throughout the state.

"Our national and regional economy is hurting, but cutting funding for key transportation projects would only do more damage. We must do all that we can to keep jobs and businesses in Washington state," Murray explained.

The full Senate passed the Omnibus bill with a 69-29 vote.