| 2/17/2010 3:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| The partial funding for replacement of the Madison-Milton bridge was one of about 51 projects nationwide that received approval today for TIGER grant funding paid from federal stimulus money. The grant is less than one-fourth of the amount that Kentucky and Indiana had applied for and was the minimal grant that the U.S. Department of Transportation had said would be approved for any grant. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie) |
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Bridge project gets $20M minimum
TIGER grant well short of $95M requested, but Ky. expected to make up balance
Sara Denhart
Courier Staff Writer
The Madison-Milton bridge replacement will receive $20 million of the $95 million that Kentucky and Indiana had requested in federal stimulus funds.
"Obviously, we'd like to have the full amount," Madison Mayor Tim Armstrong said. "As long as I'm in office and working with Judge-Executive Randy Stevens in Kentucky, we will continue to push forward and make sure this project is completed. ... It's important not only for the infrastructure, but to our whole community to sustain what we have and for growth in the future."
Armstrong said that getting some money "is a positive step" because it is the first time the bridge replacement has received federal money.
Stevens, the judge-executive in Trimble County, said this morning that he was told by state officials that Kentucky and Indiana would not have received the federal funding without a clear path on how to fund the project with the shortfall.
"The grant funding wouldn't have come if the states didn't have a definite plan to move forward," Stevens said. "I have been told by some anonymous state officials that Kentucky will commit $89 million in 2011 from the federal transportation money Kentucky receives annually."
Stevens said he plans to meet with top state officials about the bridge in the coming days. He said he also will be looking for a timeline from Kentucky and will be working on planning for the project's completion.
"I was scared with the money announcement at first, but I later found out that it is bridge replacement money, not rehabilitation money," Stevens said. "It's really good news, but it would have been good to have a forward notice."
The federal government, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, made $1.5 billion available in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, grants. The Madison-Milton bridge replacement was one of about 50 projects in the nation to receive money.
The award was the minimum amount any grant recipient could receive, according to grant guidelines.
All the projects that receive TIGER grant funding are to be completed by Feb. 17, 2012.
In their application, Kentucky and Indiana asked the federal government for $95 million for the Madison-Milton bridge. To finish the project by the deadline the federal government set, Kentucky chose to replace the superstructure of the 80-year-old bridge, use the existing piers, have wider lanes with the new superstructure and add a walkway for pedestrians. While construction took place, two ferry boats would carry traffic across the Ohio River.
To show the federal government the states' commitment toward the project, Kentucky and Indiana agreed to split the $36 million remaining to complete the $131 million project.
The U.S. Department of Transportation received about $60 billion worth of applications for projects countrywide.
"I have been a strong advocate for this project to receive a TIGER grant, and I believe it's a reflection of the importance of the project that it was one of just about 50 selected for funding nationwide," said Congressman Baron Hill, D-Indiana, whose office announced the grant Tuesday night, ahead of an expected announcement today. "To put that into perspective, I'm told that DOT received more than 1,000 applications for TIGER grants."
While Kentucky and Indiana only received $10 million each, other states - including one neighboring state - received much more.
In Illinois, the city of Chicago received $100 million for its freight rail system and the state received $28 million for two other projects.
In New York, officials learned they would receive $83.3 million in TIGER grant funds for the Moynihan Station project to build a new Amtrak train hall in Manhattan.
According to grant guidelines, the TIGER grant funds are only to be used for interstate rehabilitation, improvements to the rural collector road system, reconstruction of overpasses and interchanges, bridge replacements, seismic retrofit projects for bridges and road alignments, public transportation projects, passenger and freight rail transportation projects, and port infrastructure investments.
The grants were evaluated on long-term outcomes, state of good repair, economic competitiveness, livability, sustainability, safety, job creation and economic stimulus, innovation and partnership.
Madison-Milton bridge project manager John Carr could not be reached for comment.
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Staff writer Peggy Vlerebome contributed to this report
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