The Washington State Legislature compromise 2021-2023 state capital budget includes just shy of $9 million for a new Fry Creek pump station, a critical component of Aberdeen and Hoquiam’s large-scale flood protection project.

The East Aberdeen rail separation project did not make the cut in the 2021 state transportation budget. However, the attention the project gained in Olympia this year could pay benefits once the Legislature lands on a new transportation revenue package.

Flood reduction funding

“We are thrilled to see the state make significant investments in our community, including $8.975 million for the Fry Creek Pump Station, which is a pivotal part of the North Shore Levee project,” said Aberdeen Mayor Pete Schave.

“The (funding) will allow the Fry Creek pump station component of the North Shore Levee project to move forward to the construction phase,” said Aberdeen City Engineer Kris Koski. “Thankfully, the design and permitting phases for the pump station were previously funded and are currently underway.”

As for the North Shore Levee — a proposed flood prevention wall stretching along the north side of Grays Harbor from the west side of the Wishkah River west to the Hoquiam River, designed to remove thousands of properties from the federal flood insurance requirement — a significant investment in the Office of Chehalis Basin by the 2021 Legislature means funds could be available to push that project forward.

“We are also excited to see the Office of Chehalis Basin receive $70 million to support our region,” said Hoquiam Mayor Ben Winkelman. “In addition to seeking out direct state and federal funding opportunities to complete the North Shore Levee and North Shore Levee West Segment, we will need to continue to partner with the Office of Chehalis Basin to move the project forward.”

The west segment levee Winkelman refers to is a separate project that would extend the North Shore Levee west to cover downtown Hoquiam homes, businesses and schools not included in the North Shore Levee design. It would get another 1,000 homes and more than 2,000 parcels of land off the federal flood insurance requirement.

East Aberdeen rail separation

The East Aberdeen rail separation project, which would incorporate a large roundabout and overpass to separate rail traffic from vehicle traffic through the often-congested east end of Aberdeen, was in the early House and Senate versions of the 2021 state transportation budget for full funding of more than $50 million. It did not, however, make it into the compromise transportation budget approved last week.

“While there was no new funding for the project in this session, we are thrilled that the Aberdeen US 12 highway-rail separation project has been included in both the House and Senate project lists for a new transportation revenue package,” said Koski. “This puts the project in a very good position to be funded once a transportation revenue package is passed. In the meantime, the project is beginning the preliminary engineering phase using funding that was secured in 2020.”

That $700,000 in 2020 funding was part of last year’s supplemental transportation budget.

Aberdeen and Hoquiam both employed the same lobbying firm to leverage the 2021 Legislature for funding for their projects, and local legislators went to the plate to secure funding.

“Our community is incredibly fortunate to have such strong representation in Olympia with Rep. (Steve) Tharinger and the entire 19th and 24th legislative delegation, who continue to fight to support our community,” said Hoquiam City Administrator Brian Shay. “We are very thankful for their leadership and public service.”

“These are critical investments in our community that will greatly benefit the people living and doing business here,” said Koski. “We are celebrating the great successes from this session for the 19th and 24th legislative districts while continuing to work hard on full funding packages for our major capital projects.”