HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence - BOCC (006)0
February7f, 2023
GRANT COUNTY
OFFICE OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
P O Box 37
EPHRATA WA 98823
(509) 754-2011
Re: Support of Funding for Port of Warden's Truck Access/Bypass Road Project
To whom it may concern,
I am writing in support of the funding request for the "Port of Warden Truck Access/Bypass Road Project",
which would build a bypass road from/to SR 170 to/from Port -owned industrial zoned properties in
southwest Warden, WA to help trucks bypass disadvantaged residential neighborhoods on that side of town
and to help handle the increasing growth in freight from industrial, food processing and agricultural
shippers.
In the past few years, a great deal of economic development and freight growth have occurred at the Port
of Warden, including a canola crushing and canola oil refining facility, a new fertilizer distribution facility,
additional fresh produce packing and frozen and dehydrated food processing, and the associated
warehousing for these products. While the economic growth in Warden is very positive, Warden is still
defined as a rural socioeconomically disadvantaged community (in eastern Washington) in which nearly
85% of the students qualify for free and reduced -price school lunches.
As a result of the growth and expansion of these industries in the Port of Warden, road infrastructure in
Warden is near capacity and a truck access/bypass road is needed to allow for the related growth in truck
freight coming from and going to Port of Warden to service the above industries, and also to attract new
industries. More importantly, this project will help the Port build a truck bypass road so that trucks won't
have to travel through the middle of disadvantaged residential neighborhoods in Warden in the future.
In conclusion, I support the funding request for the "Port of Warden Truck Access/Bypass Road Project",
an important safety, environmental, and job -creating transportation and freight mobility infrastructure
project, which would improve road infrastructure to better route trucks around neighborhoods in Warden,
WA.
Rob Jones,
District 2 Commissioner
Danny E. Stone Rob Jones Cindy Carter
District 1 District 2 District 3
"To MEET CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS? SERVING TOGETHER WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES, WHILE FOSTERING
A RESPECTFUL AND SUCCESSFUL WORK ENVIRONMENT."