Feds provide funding for pedestrians, bikes

By John Vlahovich
Spokane Public Radio

Help for pedestrians crossing Highway 2 in Airway Heights – beautification of Spokane’s Broadway Avenue – restoration of two historic brick streets in Wenatchee. Washington Transportation Department officials this week announced that federal highway money will be spent these and other similar project types throughout the Evergreen State.

Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald says Washington will spend nearly $42 million in federal money on what he calls “enhancement” projects – pedestrian and bike paths, historic preservation and rehabbing, roadway landscaping and the like.

Here in Eastern Washington, Spokane and nearby communities get $2.7 million for 12 projects.

Money will be spent within Spokane on enhancements to the Perry Street business center and for new sidewalks, landscaping, lighting and new bike racks on West Broadway in the West Central Neighborhood.

Airway Heights gets money to install overhead lighting, signage and pavement markings at Highway 2 pedestrian crossings.

A $271,000 grant will get the Hillyard Railroad Museum off the ground.

Elsewhere, Ferry Country received $89,000 for improvements of the Golden Tiger Pathway adjacent to highway 20-21.

The north central Washington town of Pateros gets $304,000 to move the historic Gallaher House from nearby Bridgeport and turn it into a transportation museum and tourist center.

And Wenatchee plans to use its $85,000 enhancement grant to restore two of its streets to their original brick surfaces.