This week, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), along with Sens. Patty Murray (WA) and Maria Cantwell (WA) helped secure a $17.4 million U.S. Department of Transportation RAISE grant for the Heights District Infrastructure project.

The $17,463,128 investment will help construct Complete Street enhancements for two segments of the Grand Loop, a pedestrian-focused street and linear park that surrounds the central core of the Heights Redevelopment Area. In February, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez urged Secretary Pete Buttigieg to support the project.

The Heights redevelopment is expected to create roughly 1,300 new units of affordable housing and support over 200 long-term jobs around the new retail spaces. The existing transportation network lacks bike, pedestrian, and busing options. In addition to housing, the redevelopment will provide necessary retail and commercial facilities that will increase access to health care and essential services.

This new grant builds on the $4 million Community Project Funding (CPF) award Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez secured in March, which was the first successful federal investment in the Heights District project.

Washington state was awarded the most RAISE grants and the largest amount of funding out of any state this year to invest in a wide variety of infrastructure projects with local and regional impacts.

“Safe, walkable infrastructure is essential for supporting resilient economies and small businesses, housing abundance, and essential services in the Heights District,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “By helping secure new RAISE funding, we’re building on the federal dollars I brought home for the district’s redevelopment earlier this year – that way we can keep folks moving, boost our local economy, and support new jobs in the area.”

“This funding is going to help make the exciting new plans for the Heights District a reality – with a new park, a walkable central street, 1,300 new units of affordable housing, over 200 new jobs in the area, better options to get around the Heights District and to other neighborhoods in Vancouver, and so much more,” said Sen. Murray. “Investing in projects like this one – to build thriving new districts within Vancouver, produce more housing, especially for underserved residents, and create new jobs and opportunities – is exactly why I created the RAISE grant program in the first place.”

“Every city in our state needs affordable housing, including Vancouver,” said Sen. Cantwell. “This grant helps build the essential infrastructure needed to support 1,300 new affordable homes including new roads, bike lanes, ADA-accessible sidewalks, and a robust wastewater system.”