March 30, 2005

The Honorable Cathy McMorris
United States House of Representatives
1708 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congresswoman McMorris:

Congratulations on securing $4.3 million in federal funds for the next phases of improving Highway 12 between Burbank and Walla Walla. Improvements to this vital highway are important to all of us who live, work and do business in the state of Washington. Thanks to you and the impressive efforts of the US 12 Coalition - one of the most astute and successful corridor coalitions in the state - we are making progress toward greatly enhancing the safety of the highway and better serving the needs of a growing economy.

As you know, continuing support from our state and federal government will be required to realize the vision for the entire corridor. We want you to know that the Transportation Partnership is working hard to secure state transportation funding that will be required to meet that vision. Action by our state legislature in 2005 on statewide transportation funding can help get the job done on US 12 and other vital economic corridors in our state. In 2005, our state legislature can enhance opportunities for more federal funding down the road. It can build on the successes on US 12 and other routes because of the 2003 transportation funding package approved by our state legislature.

The legislature's 2003 transportation funding package was an important down payment toward supporting the state's economic future with transportation investment. The growing Transportation Partnership is now focused on continuing the momentum of the 2003 package with additional new transportation funding in the current legislative session.

We support your efforts to win final approval of federal funds for US 12 in this session of the Congress and look forward to working with you in the future to complete the corridor and others like it throughout the state. The step-by-step success on US 12 is an excellent example of how projects can move forward to enhance the safety of highways in our entire state and enhance our overall economic competitiveness.

Sincerely,