PORTLAND, Oregon — U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visited the Pacific Northwest on Friday, first meeting with Washington state leaders in Washougal to highlight and discuss a railroad crossing elimination grant, and later meeting with Oregon leaders to tour 82nd Avenue and discuss the corridor's future.
In Washougal, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell and Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez met with Buttigieg to discuss an intersection the federal government is putting $40.48 million toward fixing. It's where 40 trains a day cause gridlock for drivers and first responders coming in and out of town.
“So that's why we're so glad to be here — to be here to celebrate the $40 million that are going to reconstruct that 32nd street underpass and make for a better life and a better routine all across this area," said Buttigieg as he addressed stakeholders Friday morning.
Also in attendance was Washougal Mayor David Stuebe, who welcomed Buttigieg.
“What an incredible day for our community and Washougal, this is an epic moment," Stuebe said.
Soon after, it was across the river to Portland Community College's Southeast Campus flanked by some of Oregon’s congressional delegation and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek.
U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer arranged the visit to talk about 82nd Avenue, an old state highway, now under city control and in need of a lot of help. Blumenauer said it's one of Oregon’s orphaned highways, ripe for transformation.
“Seven miles of opportunity and challenge — and we're poised now to finally take advantage of that,” said Blumenauer.
Poised for improvements, because of more than $100 million committed by the state and the city of Portland. Buttigieg said it's something the federal government can get behind financially.
“Ultimately what we're doing with the federal dollars going out is actually going to be decided at the state and local level, we're constantly trying to empower state and local government to get things done,” he said.
Following the PCC stop, a bus tour on an all-electric TriMet bus was a chance for officials and community members to show and tell the top transportation official in the country, the dangers of the roadway, the improvements to come, and how federal dollars are needed, as well, to create safety, livability and equity.
Buttigieg liked what he heard.
“And seeing everything from this great green bus, which we're buying more and more for transit agencies across the country, to the corridor that is going to benefit from good policy choices and good investment in the future. This is why transportation matters,” said Buttigieg.
KGW also asked Buttigieg about the federal commitment for a replacement for the Interstate Bridge across the Columbia River. He said he couldn't talk specifics, but that both states showing a billion-dollar commitment makes the case for federal funding stronger in the grant application process to come.