County told one federal funding request for I‑90 expansion cleared appropriations committee list

Public Works staff informed commissioners that one of the county’s community-directed spending submissions—seeking funds to advance environmental permitting for alternatives to expand I‑90 between Easton and Cle Elum—was included on a House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill list, a step staff called encouraging but not a guarantee of final funding.

The county’s application was advanced for consideration in the House THUD bill, staff said, and the recommended funding would support environmental permitting and further project planning for congestion and safety improvements on that section of I‑90. Staff reported an approximate federal amount of $2,000,000 would be earmarked for those steps if the appropriation is enacted.

Staff attributed the development to work by the county’s federal partners; the meeting transcript records staff saying a representative in Congress supported the request. Public Works thanked staff who have worked on the item and noted that the funding, if enacted, would not pay for final design or construction but would support permitting and preliminary project work.

No formal county action or appropriation was taken at the meeting; the item was informational. The transcript does not identify the specific member of Congress by confirmed spelling; staff said a federal partner indicated a representative supported the request. The county will continue to monitor federal appropriations outcomes as the congressional process continues.