Link Transit Contributes Again to Confluence Parkway Environmental Analysis

The City of Wenatchee recently began soliciting local entities to assist with a $700,000 shortfall in funding for the Confluence Parkway Project's Environmental Impact Statement.

Link General Manager Richard DeRock said Mayor Frank Kuntz asked that the transit authority commit $350,000 towards finishing the environmental stage of the project.

DeRock said, "The Board's decision was to tell the city that they would contribute part of the funding, but that the city was going to have to either come up with it themselves or find someone else to make up the contribution."

Ultimately, The Link Transit Board approved a contribution of just over $262,000, on the condition that the City of Wenatchee acquires the rest of the funds needed.

After previously contributing $200,000 to the City of Wenatchee to assist in funding the study, DeRock stated that Link is now done with helping with this stage of the project.

"However, if the projects that are being cleared through the environmental process go forward, there will probably be some participation at some level for transportation improvements in that corridor," added DeRock.

The environmental analysis, which is required by the National Environmental Policy Act, is estimated to cost about $3 million in total. Once completed, the Environmental Impact Statement will be good for 10 years.

The City of Wenatchee is just over $237,000 short on funding the project's Environmental Impact Statement after Link's contribution and $175,000 from the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority.

Link used some of its sales tax funds to pay for the contribution. DeRock said sales tax funds are more flexible, and the recent $7 million in CARES Act funding Link recently received freed up Link's sales tax resources.