Grant Application for Apple Capital Loop Infrastructure Funding Submitted

The City of Wenatchee recently submitted a federal INFRA grant application for its package of proposed local projects titled "Completing the Apple Capital Loop". The City of East Wenatchee, Douglas County, Link Transit and the Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council are all project partners.

The project would cost just over $286 million total and would include in part $128 million for the Confluence Parkway, $32 million for the McKittrick Street Underpass and $4 million for a roundabout at the intersection of SR 28 and Easy Street.

Mayor Frank Kuntz said the last two times they've applied for the grant the proposal made it all the way to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation's desk. Staff and local officials are continuing to play the federal game by meeting with the area's congressional delegation and Washington's two US Senators. The project will need both state and federal funding, and the city can expect to hear back about the INFRA grant application in May or June.

"There's not green ribbon for second place in these things. It's either you get it funded or you don't get it funded. That's the cutthroat nature of playing at the federal level," explained Kuntz.

The city is requesting $140.4 million in federal funds. If federal money can't be obtained through an INFRA grant, it's also possible the package could be funded through a $3 trillion infrastructure package that is currently being proposed in Washington D.C.

The full proposal can be found here.