Gov. Christine Gregoire yesterday kicked off the first phase of a project on Pacific Highway East between the Port of Tacoma Road and Alexander Avenue that will increase trade capacity for the Port.
“We’re here to make our economy healthier and our roads safer, and to recognize that we all have a stake in the health of our infrastructure,” said Gov. Gregoire. “This project also shows the power of working together to improve our economic vitality.”
The governor participated in a groundbreaking for the project, which will enhance safety on Pacific Highway East as well as the capacity for trade through more efficient transfer of goods from the Port of Tacoma to I-5.
Partners in the project include the City of Fire, the Transportation Improvement Board, the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board, the Federal TEA-21 ST, and the Puyallup Tribe.
“We all have something to gain from an infrastructure that works, and something to lose if it doesn’t,” she said.
The Port is a major economic engine, providing more than $91 million in tax revenues. It provides 43,000 jobs in Pierce County and 110,000 jobs statewide.
“In Washington State, one out of three jobs is dependent on trade,” Gov. Gregoire said. “Our capacity for trade depends on the capacity of the infrastructure connecting our ports to the rest of the country.
“We are America’s gateway to Asia, but unless we make overdue investments in our infrastructure, we will lose that distinction,” she added. “We will lose jobs as well because our ports compete against ports in San Francisco, Los Angeles and British Columbia.”
The governor said that recently, the Port of Seattle and the Port of Tacoma kicked off the Ports Initiative to seek a shared 20-year vision for keeping Washington’s competitive advantage on trade.
“Without surprise, having an infrastructure capable of supporting the volume of trade coming to and from these ports is a top concern and focus for the Ports Initiative,” said Gov. Gregoire.
The next phase will widen the southbound on-ramp to I-5 from one to two lanes. Once completed, the double left turn lanes on Pacific Highway will feed directly onto I-5.
