The Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Replacement has received a $3.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE, program.  The $3.6 million grant will fund the planning, preliminary engineering and design for pedestrian and bicycle amenities on the new bridge.  Plans for the new bridge call for a 12-foot walking and biking path on its west side.  In recent open house events held by the bridge project team, members of the public expressed a strong desire for adequate walking and biking amenities on the new bridge, as well as connections to existing infrastructure.  The federal grant program helps communities build transportation projects that have significant local or regional impact and improve safety and equity.  The RAISE grant is one of several federal grants the project team is pursuing to reduce local funding and tolls needed to fund the project.