Larsen Announces $23.5 Million for the Port of Bellingham

Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement: “This funding is great news for the Port of Bellingham and Northwest Washington’s entire economy,” said Rep. Larsen. “These dollars will allow the Port of Bellingham to rebuild port infrastructure and create good-paying jobs in Northwest Washington. I will keep working to bring home federal dollars to upgrade maritime infrastructure and grow the local economy.” The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that the Port of Bellingham will receive $23,500,000 in federal funding under the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program for the port to rebuild pier infrastructure, strengthen deck loading capacity and upgrade its mooring system for Phase II of the Bellingham Shipping Terminal’s North Pier Rehabilitation project. The BUILD program provides grants for communities of all sizes to carry out road, rail, transit and other surface transportation projects with significant local or regional impact. "This grant is a major milestone in our long-term effort to modernize the Bellingham Shipping Terminal, strengthen our active working waterfront, and create and sustain family-wage jobs for our ILWU workforce, skilled tradespeople, and the broader maritime economy,” said Port Commission President Michael Shepard. “Strategic infrastructure investments like this are critical to maintaining an active shipping terminal, attracting new cargo opportunities, and supporting living-wage careers that help local families thrive. Every new vessel call generates economic activity that supports jobs on the docks, in the trades, and throughout Whatcom County.” The funding marks another major step towards the Port’s long-term effort to restore the aging shipping terminal that currently limits the Port’s operational capacity. Completion of the project will restore and modernize a critical marine freight asset that will improve the movement of goods, improve worker safety and create long-term jobs in Northwest Washington. Projects in Washington state received a total of $52 million in BUILD grants for three projects across the state, including the Port of Bellingham’s project. Larsen Has Secured $129.4 Million in BUILD Grants for WA-02 Since 2022 Larsen has secured nine BUILD grants totaling $129,406,000 for local communities since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed. In addition to the $23 million for the Port of Bellingham, Larsen has helped deliver: $2 Million for Snohomish County's Everett Intermodal Yard and Curve Improvements Project – In July 2025, DOT awarded Snohomish County a $2 million BUILD grant to improve rail shipping capability, safety, and reliability for freight and intercity passenger service at the Everett Intermodal Yard. $25 Million for Lynnwood’s Poplar Way Bridge – In August 2022, DOT awarded the City of Lynnwood a $25 million RAISE grant to construct a new six-lane, multimodal bridge over I-5 in Lynnwood, between the intersections of 196th Street SW (State Route 524)/Poplar Way and 33rd Avenue W/Alderwood Mall Boulevard. $25 Million for Whatcom County’s Lummi Island Ferry – In August 2022, DOT awarded Whatcom County a $25 million RAISE grant to replace the 60-year-old Lummi Island ferry with an electric-battery hybrid ferry and build related infrastructure. $9.5 Million for Blaine’s Bell Road Project – In June 2023, DOT awarded the City of Blaine a $9.5 million RAISE grant to improve safety and accessibility and reduce congestion at the Bell Road (State Route 548)-BNSF at-grade rail crossing. $17.9 Million for Port of Bellingham’s Shipping Terminal Rail Connection Project – In June 2024, DOT awarded the Port of Bellingham a $17,931,000 RAISE grant to renovate a shipping terminal site, returning the site to a fully functioning multimodal terminal with more efficient loading and unloading of railcars on the terminal. $4.9 Million for the Tulalip Tribes’ Road Safety Project – In June 2024, DOT awarded the Tulalip Tribes a $4,975,000 RAISE grant to plan, design and construct improvements to the 4th Street and 88th Street NE crossings of Interstate 5. $2 Million for Lynden’s Pepin Creek FASST Design Project – In January 2025, DOT awarded the City of Lynden a $2 million RAISE grant to complete planning for its project to relocate Pepin Creek, which runs in deep roadside ditches that overflow and flood the area during winter storms when large quantities of water flow across the U.S.-Canada border. $19.5 Million for Skagit Transit’s Maintenance, Operations, and Administration Facility – In January 2025, DOT awarded Skagit Transit a $19.5 million RAISE grant for the agency to continue renovating its Maintenance, Operations, and Administration Facility in Burlington. ###