Support grows for GRATE
By Terry Murry on Friday, June 18th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HERMISTON – Support continues to grow for the Gettman Road/Railway Alternative Transportation Enhancement Project, referred to as GRATE, which will create an alternative east-west route through Hermiston and hopefully relieve some pressure around the high school.
“Anybody who has driven through that area around school start times, lunch times, and release times recognizes that it’s a mess,” Morgan said.
The city has now received numerous letters of support for the proposal including letters from Umatilla County, the Hermiston School District, other local education leaders, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
Morgan said that easing congestion and First and Highland is important, but it’s not the only reason for GRATE.
“Providing this Gettman Road expansion should hopefully pull some existing vehicles out of that First and Highland intersection, and then also allow the community to continue growing off to the south,” he said.
Umatilla County commissioners wrote that the project will reduce barriers that were created by the rail line as well.
