PORT ANGELES, WA – On June 22, 2023, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced that the City of Port Angeles has been awarded a $16.13 million RAISE Discretionary Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.This grant will be used to plan and design approximately 34 active transportation components, addressing approximately 100 miles of gaps, community connections, and safety improvements for multi-use trails connecting Bainbridge Island on Puget Sound to the Pacific Coast.
“This is a big deal,” said Rep. Kilmer. “This investment in the Puget Sound to Pacific trail will help connect workers to jobs, local residents to essential services, and folks looking for recreation to some of our region’s natural treasures. Having the federal government provide this grant funding means we will see improved trail connectivity and better safety without the cost being borne entirely be taxpayers in our neck of the woods. That’s a huge win for our region.”
The Puget Sound to Pacific (PS2P) corridor acts as a vital transportation route, connecting the bustling Greater Seattle metropolitan area to the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsula regions. It achieves this by integrating with the regional transit hubs located at the Bainbridge and Kingston ferry terminals. In February, Rep. Kilmer expressed his support for the PS2P proposal in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
The PS2P proposal introduces an innovative active transportation corridor, designed to establish a safe and non-motorized shared-use path. This path will seamlessly connect various communities across Kitsap, Jefferson, and Clallam counties in Washington state. The primary objective of this multi-use trail project extends beyond the three counties and the small towns and tribal communities directly involved. It serves as a crucial link to the renowned Olympic National Park, as well as facilitating connectivity to the greater Seattle area and the entirety of Washington state.
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