Spokane Valley, Washington, recently was awarded a $9 million grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grants program.
The funds will be used to improve the railroad crossings at Barker and Flora roads, support the development of 600 acres of industrial, mixed-use, and commercial land, improve the safety and efficiency of freight and rail movement in Spokane Valley and eliminate two railroad crossings.
“My goal behind creating the TIGER program was to help make our communities and transportation systems safer, more efficient, and better able to meet the demands of the 21st century economy — and I’m glad to see critical investments that will improve rail efficiency and relieve local traffic congestion flow to the City of Spokane Valley,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) said. “This project will not only benefit the regional and national economy but will cut commute times for families in the greater Spokane region. I’ll continue championing TIGER and other programs that support much-needed improvements to our infrastructure and help communities maintain healthy economies to benefit current and future generations.”
Murray created the TIGER program, which has awarded $5.1 billion to 421 projects, in 2009.
She is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.