Yes, there’s a resolution to the Cape Cod bridges.
And the reply isn’t a bridge too far.
It lies within the palms of Gov. Maura Healey. But it’s going to take daring management on her half to ensure the 2 functionally out of date, lifeline bridges to Cape Cod—the Sagamore and the Bourne—are changed earlier than they collapse.
The bridges had been constructed 88 years in the past with a projected life lifespan of fifty years.
The US Army Corps of Engineers, which constructed, operates and maintains the bridges, known as them “functionally obsolete” 15 years in the past.
The Corps would oversee development of two new bridges at a value of $4 billion, half of which might come from the federal authorities.
However, the Massachusetts delegation to Washington, all Democrats, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, have repeatedly didn’t win appropriation of $2 billion in grant cash for the desperately wanted challenge.
Earlier this month the state Department of Transportation introduced that after once more the appliance for federal funds filed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, had been rejected.
This rejection got here although Democrat US. Rep. Richard Neal of Springfield, was chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee in a Democrat-controlled Congress, working with Democrat President Joe Biden.
Federal funds for the bridges appear much more distant now that finances reducing republicans have taken management of the House and Biden has extra vital issues on his thoughts, like surviving.
The bridges should not solely the only roadway connection to and from the Cape for 236,000 everlasting residents, however an important technique of connection for hundreds of employees who each day commute to the Cape, to not point out from the mainland, to not point out the 5 million vacationers who yearly flock to the Cape.
It is attention-grabbing to notice that Healey in her inaugural speech, which got here simply days after the rejection announcement, known as for creation of a state company to go after federal infrastructure funds for roads and bridges which fellow Democrats Warren, Markey, Neal, and the remaining simply didn’t do.
Whether Healy meant to diss the Congressional crowd or not, the very fact stays that there aren’t any federal funds forthcoming to construct the 2 new bridges.
Or if the funds can be found, the state’s delegation to Washington can not get them.
And realistically, Healey can create all of the businesses she needs to take care of the federal authorities, but when the state’s two senators and 9 members of the House, all Democrats, can not carve $2 billion out of the trillions that Joe Biden has thrown round, then a newly created state company won’t succeed both.
So, Healey ought to neglect Warren, Markey and the remainder of the ineffective Massachusetts delegation, and neglect additionally about her new company.
What she ought to do is construct the bridges herself. While progressives like Healey are at all times speaking about constructing bridges to this, that or the opposite allegedly aggrieved group, on this case she might construct an actual bridge.
In this period of firsts—first this, first that, and first no matter—Healey could possibly be the primary governor in Massachusetts historical past to not solely to construct an actual metal bridge, however she might construct two of them.
Never in current reminiscence has a governor assumed energy with a lot cash available. Thanks to former Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, the state is awash in cash.
The state took in a lot cash from taxpayers in 2021 that it was by regulation pressured to refund some $3 billion to overtaxed residents.
In addition, Baker left Healey a $5 billion finances surplus in addition to depositing one other $7 billion within the state’s rainy-day fund.
Healey comes into workplace with $12 billion available that she, with the approval of a Democrat-controlled Massachusetts Legislature, can spend as she sees match.
The bridges, with out the $2 billion in federal funds, would price Massachusetts $4 billion, leaving Healey and the Legislature with $8 billion in extra cash to throw round.
If Gov. Healey needs to construct actual bridges, she ought to begin with the Sagamore and the Bourne. The folks deserve it. And it’s their cash.
Peter Lucas is a veteran Massachusetts political reporter and columnist.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”