| 1/16/2010 8:59:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Deadline nears for bridge grant notification
The U.S. Department of Transportation has received requests for about $58 billion to pay for projects with federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grants.
The Madison-Milton bridge project is among those requests. Kentucky and Indiana are asking for $95 million to help pay for the $131 million project that would place a new superstructure on existing piers that would be upgraded to support the new bridge.
But the federal government has only $1.5 billion to spend - about $30 million per state, if the money is divided evenly among the states making requests.
"We don't know how we can build the bridge without the TIGER grant," said John Carr, Madison-Milton bridge project manager. "We may have to close the bridge if we cannot get a new one built."
Carr said the local bridge project is just what President Barack Obama had in mind when he announced that American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding would be available for the transportation projects.
Carr said Obama was targeting bridges when he announced the grant last year. The president also wanted projects that would make a difference in the lives of those in the community and that would put people back to work.
"This bridge is in pretty desperate shape," Carr said. "This is the lifeline between the two communities."
However, the Obama administration announced Wednesday that the transportation policy would switch gears toward funding transit projects. The transit projects are to be designed to create economic development and help the environment.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in an interview with The Washington Post that the policy change could enhance the chances of some transit project applications being funded over other projects that are asking for TIGER grant dollars.
Even with the policy shift, Carr still believes the Madison-Milton project has a probable chance of being funded with the TIGER grant.
Carr said Kentucky and Indiana were prudent in submitting their grant applications to the U.S. Department of Transportation. He said Kentucky only sent in three applications but was unsure how many Indiana sent. The grant application does require the state government to sign for approval.
"I doubt there are any other projects that can make two cities, two states, two governors, four state representatives happy by awarding one project," Carr said.
The local project will learn if funding is approved as soon as late January, Carr said. The deadline for the funding announcement by the government is Feb. 17.
|
Reader Comments
Posted: Sunday, January 17, 2010
Article comment by:
BOB SCOTT
What SHOULD be said about OUR bridge?
Special interest demands not in thier back yard.The good o boys wants a feather in thier hats by building a band aid bridge were the old one NOW stands.
KEEPING IN MIND THE COUNTLESS JOBS THAT ASK ANY SANE PERSON WILL TELL YOU ARE GONE GONE GONE THE MAJORITY WANTS A NEW BRIDGE THAT WILL LAST FAR LONGER THEN THIS IDEAL OF THE SPECIAL INTEREST AND THE GOOD O BOYS TO BOOT.
NOW THEY SAY WITH A SMIRK AND A WINK WE HOPE THERE IS MONEY FOR THE BAND AID BRIDGE FOR THE STATES ONLY HAVE SO MUCH TO SPEND.TELL YOU WHAT WE SHOULD DO KEEP THE SIMIS OFF OF THE BRIDE BY ANY MEANS AND OUR BRIDGE COULD LAST US UNTIL THE STATES ARE OUT OF THE RED,BACK IN THE BLACK AND THEN ASK FOR A COMPLETE NEW BRIDGE MINUS THE INPUT OF SPECIAL INTEREST AND THE GOOD O BOYS.QUESTION TO THE MAJORITY IF YOUR WISHES ARE NOT GRANTED WILL YOU STILL VOTE FOR THE ONES THAT FAILS TO HEAR YOU?
BOB SCOTT
534 LIBERTY RD
MILTON KY.
|
Article Comment Form
|
