City tries again for a U.S. DOT grant
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, May 18th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – For the fourth time the city of Pendleton and the Oregon Department of Transportation are applying for a U.S. Department of Transportation grant to rebuild the Interstate 84 Exit 209 interchange at Southgate. Community Development Director Tim Simons said the city’s been close, and that’s been painful.
“We’ve been third and they’ve awarded two, or we’ve been second and they’ve awarded one,” he said. “We’re always right on the cusp of getting that grant.”
The federal money available this year is $1 billion, which must be split equally between urban and rural areas. The maximum award is $25 million per project, and each state can receive no more than $100 million. Simons said the project is vital to easing traffic problems on Southgate.
“It’s a $20-plus million project to improve that interchange,” he said. “That would include reconfiguring that intersection of 20th and Southgate and where the off ramps come off.”
The project would also open Southwest Perkins Avenue to Tutuilla Road, giving access to more land for housing, Simons said. The grants had a name change with the new administration. What once were BUILD grants are now RAISE grants –standing for Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity. The deadline for applications is July 12.
