The president’s 2024 price range, as written, would partially fund the substitute of the Cape Cod bridges and proposes finally transferring possession of the busy spans from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the state.
“The Budget includes an initial $350 million for replacement of the Cape Cod Canal bridges, toward a commitment of $600 million, and a legislative proposal that would allow the Corps to transfer those funds to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which is better suited to design and construct the replacement bridges,” President Biden’s price range reads, partially.
“The Budget proposes authorizing the Corps to transfer ownership of these bridges to the Commonwealth, which would be responsible for their future operation and maintenance,” the proposal reads.
MassDOT and the USACE have been working collectively on plans to switch the federally-owned Bourne and Sagamore bridges since 2020, when the Army Corps decided each buildings would require substitute. The two bridges present the one roadway connection on and off Cape Cod for the 263,000 residents of the Cape and Islands, in addition to for five million annual guests.
Built by the Army Corps in 1935, in accordance with estimates the associated fee to switch the bridges approaches $4 billion. Not changing them, in accordance with a report by the Army Corps, would value about $775 in upkeep by 2050.
The President’s price range requires funding about 15% of the estimated whole mission value earlier than finally transferring possession of the bridges to the state.
It isn’t the Army Corps’ plan to go away the state on the hook for the remaining about $3.4 billion, in accordance with Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael Connor.
“It’s a significant cost. This is a very huge down payment from the army civil works programs perspective, and we will continue our work with MassDOT as well as Department of Transportation and any other agencies that might have an ability to contribute to this, all with an eye towards fully funding the needs that exist for replacement,” Connor mentioned at a Thursday press convention.
Officials have twice sought a Large Bridge Project Grant made accessible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s aggressive Bridge Investment Program and twice been denied, to the purpose lawmakers grew involved the Army Corps wasn’t presenting a aggressive sufficient utility for grant funding to qualify earlier than the money was gone.
U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, together with Rep. Bill Keating, wrote the Army Corps on the finish of January to inform them as a lot, expressing their dissatisfaction with the shortage of progress and reiterating the significance of the 2 bridges to the economic system of the state and area.
On Thursday, the identical lawmakers issued a joint assertion welcoming the President and Army Corps’ new plan.
“I’ve been working hard to secure federal funding to replace the Cape Cod bridges and this initial $350 million, toward a commitment of $600 million, is a critical down payment in President Biden’s budget,” Warren mentioned in an announcement. “The Biden administration is demonstrating their commitment to this vital project, and I’ll continue coordinating with local, state and federal partners on this much-needed investment for Massachusetts.”
Markey mentioned the price range’s proposal forecasts a “promising new phase” within the ongoing saga of the Cape Cod bridges.
“I am proud of this successful push with my colleagues Senator Warren and Congressman Keating to secure this budget request and am committed to fighting to ensure that Congress follows through on this request and appropriates critical federal funds for this project,” he mentioned.
Keating referred to as the bridges a “critical lifeline” for his district and the folks there, however he alone among the many lawmakers expressed some hesitance.
“We are still in the early stages of this project, but I have been clear from the start that these bridges will be funded. The Cape Cod Canal bridges will be replaced, and I look forward to continuing to partner with the federal delegation and our federal, state, and local partners to ensure we continue moving forward,” he mentioned.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”