03/31/06 Transportation planning for central Wash

Farm and Ranch March 31, 2006 The central Columbia Basin is beginning to mobilize to keep commodities, other freight and people moving. Over three dozen people met in Moses Lake earlier this week for the first Central Washington Transportation Summit. Karen Bonaudi, who handles transportation issues for the Washington State Potato Commission, put the summit together and she was thrilled with the participation. The purpose was to begin discussion on a central Washington transportation plan. During the event it was suggested a transportation coalition be formed. Bonaudi said it is up to the broader community of the central Basin to decide that but says those kind of partnerships work. Those at the summit heard about regional collaboration from Don Whitehouse, south central regional administrator for the state's Department of Transportation. They heard a success story from Yakima's TRANS-Action Program in addressing transportation issues. Updates were also given on projects like I-90 and the expansion of Snoqualmie Pass. State Senator Joyce Mulliken of Moses Lake talked about the legislature's commitment to transportation in central Washington and said there will be a groundbreaking this spring on the expansion of Highway 17 from I-90 to Stratford Road. A second transportation summit open to the general public is scheduled for April 18th at 10 a.m. at the ATEC Building at Big Bend Community College. Bonaudi says they plan to hear from providers and users of transportation at that event. You can get more information about that second summit from Bonaudi at 509-765-8845. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.