Port, city, Quadco contribute $10,000 each to pre-study

MOSES LAKE — Port of Moses Lake commissioners heard Monday from transportation-minded representatives regarding efforts for another Moses Lake crossing.

Moses Lake resident and former state senator Joyce Mulliken and TransCo Director Karen Bonaudi asked the port to commit funding for initial renewed efforts to study the alternative lake crossing. The study would help begin movement on and garner support for the project. They're also asking the City of Moses Lake and regional transportation group Quadco.

An alternative crossing is a safety issue with traffic congestion, the area's growth and an issue of homeland security, Mulliken said, in the event of the crossings at state Route 17 or Alder Street and Stratford Road being blocked.

Mulliken believes it is important the proposed project move ahead by contributing a pre-planning research study to identify the necessity of an alternative crossing. If necessary, the study would be followed by a pre-design study to provide information regarding cost estimates and environmental impacts to the proposed routes.

A study of a proposed lake crossing within the city limits of Moses Lake was completed by the state's Department of Transportation in the early 1990s. The proposed routes in the study are no longer possible for consideration since the land was developed, Mulliken said.

Mulliken said the port district would be the lead beneficiary to such a project, long under discussion, and the city and Quadco's participation are contingent upon the port's involvement.

"The dominos need to fall," Mulliken told the port commissioners. "Like it or not, you're the lead domino."

Mulliken and Bonaudi asked the port to expedite their decision, as Mulliken is scheduled to present to Quadco's quarterly meeting Friday.

After the meeting, Mulliken said TransCo and other representatives asked her to help with the process and pool entities together to meet with the various groups.

Mulliken said she is looking for letters of support from industry and agriculture members who would benefit from an alternative route.

Peterson and Kent Jones initially said they wanted more time to make a decision. After some discussion, Commissioner Delone Krueger moved the port write a letter of support and commit $10,000 to the project, contingent upon the involvement of the other entities. The decision was unanimous by the three commissioners to do so.

All three entities are contributing the same amount, Mulliken said. The funds help the project apply for a Grant County Structure Improvement Plan grant.