January 9, 2025 3:40 a.m.
On Wednesday, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding just over $6 million to Douglas County for the planning and design of critical transportation, safety and accessibility improvements to Old Pacific Highway 99.
A joint release said securing these federal investments through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant program is a key step towards modernizing the stretch of Old Pacific Highway 99 with upgraded roads, railroad crossings, signage and transit systems in rural communities.
Merkley said, “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, over $6 million in RAISE grants will be leveraged to map out ways to modernize Old Pacific Highway 99 into a more accessible, efficient and safe route for Oregonians in Douglas County and beyond”.
Wyden said, “Douglas County residents and all motorists driving Old Pacific Highway 99 deserve the safest and smoothest travel along this route”.
The release said the USDOT’s RAISE grant program helps municipalities. Tribal governments, counties, and others to plan and construct critical freight and passenger transportation infrastructure projects that improve safety, mobility, and community connectivity while boosting economic competitiveness.
Douglas County’s two RAISE grants are:
*Over $3.5 million for the Tri-City Myrtle Creek Connection and Mobility Enhancement Project to plan and design improvements to Old Pacific Highway 99 between Riverside Drive and Gael Lane.
*Nearly $2.5 for the Sutherlin Old Highway 99 Modernization and Mobility Enhancement Project to plan and design multi-modal improvements to Old Pacific Highway 99.
Douglas County Commissioner Tom Kress said, “We are incredibly grateful to receive these two RAISE grants, which will allow us to plan for critical improvements to Old Pacific Highway 99, enhancing safety, accessibility, and sustainability for our communities”. Kress said, “We look forward to the next steps in planning and designing these improvements that will have a lasting positive impact on both our county’s transportation network and its future growth”.