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WASHINGTON, D.C. -
What a difference a day makes.
Washington will now get more federal money for the state's ferry system. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said Wednesday that she has secured $7.6 million more in federal money.
Murray says she went straight to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood with questions about how the federal stimulus grant money was awarded and why Washington state, which has the country's largest ferry system, was awarded so little.
Speaking by phone Wednesday evening Senator Murray told Q13 Fox News; "I asked him to get back to me on what his priorities were, what kind of criteria they used, and specifically why the state with highest number of ferries, ferry users, and passengers with both cars and passengers on ferries didn't get any money out of this."
Murray says Secretary LaHood admitted a mistake had been made and promised more money.
Senator Murray says: "When we talk about ferry systems and the need for national funding, we're talking about an infrastructure that is critical to people who are commuting to work, getting their kids to school, moving goods and services and I think there were people inside the Department Of Transportation that didn't understand that infrastructure. I can assure you they do now."))
Now the total federal money headed to Washington State is $8.346 million. Here's a breakdown of how it will be spent.
$2,596,000 Seattle-Bremerton Passenger-Only Fast Ferry
$2,000,000 New Vessel For New Passenger-Only Ferry Service operated by King County
$3,000,000 Anacortes Ferry Terminal Replacement
$750,000 New Guemes Island Ferry Terminal
The U.S. Dept. Of Transportation says the new money is not stimulus money and that Washington state's grants were denied because the projects were not in areas that were considered economically distressed, which was required under the stimulus formula.
State Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond said the state and county ferry systems applied for 11 grants for various projects that totaled about $56 million.
Washington state has the largest ferry system in the nation. But initially, of the 19 states and one U.S. territory that received ferry money, Washington received more than only Arkansas and Kentucky.
Washington will now get more federal money for the state's ferry system. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said Wednesday that she has secured $7.6 million more in federal money.
Murray says she went straight to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood with questions about how the federal stimulus grant money was awarded and why Washington state, which has the country's largest ferry system, was awarded so little.
Speaking by phone Wednesday evening Senator Murray told Q13 Fox News; "I asked him to get back to me on what his priorities were, what kind of criteria they used, and specifically why the state with highest number of ferries, ferry users, and passengers with both cars and passengers on ferries didn't get any money out of this."
Murray says Secretary LaHood admitted a mistake had been made and promised more money.
Senator Murray says: "When we talk about ferry systems and the need for national funding, we're talking about an infrastructure that is critical to people who are commuting to work, getting their kids to school, moving goods and services and I think there were people inside the Department Of Transportation that didn't understand that infrastructure. I can assure you they do now."))
Now the total federal money headed to Washington State is $8.346 million. Here's a breakdown of how it will be spent.
$2,596,000 Seattle-Bremerton Passenger-Only Fast Ferry
$2,000,000 New Vessel For New Passenger-Only Ferry Service operated by King County
$3,000,000 Anacortes Ferry Terminal Replacement
$750,000 New Guemes Island Ferry Terminal
The U.S. Dept. Of Transportation says the new money is not stimulus money and that Washington state's grants were denied because the projects were not in areas that were considered economically distressed, which was required under the stimulus formula.
State Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond said the state and county ferry systems applied for 11 grants for various projects that totaled about $56 million.
Washington state has the largest ferry system in the nation. But initially, of the 19 states and one U.S. territory that received ferry money, Washington received more than only Arkansas and Kentucky.
