Slater Announces $61.6M for States in Bridge Discretionary Funds
19 January 2001
U.S. Transportation Secretary Slater Announces $61.6 Million for States in Bridge Discretionary Funds
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney
E. Slater today announced that $61.6 million in Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA) discretionary funds for 15 bridge projects will be provided to 14
states.
"This funding will strengthen our transportation system, create jobs
across the country, and yield significant dividends in terms of safety,
mobility and economic growth," Secretary Slater said. "Strategic investments
in transportation like these have been an important result of President
Clinton and Vice President Gore's commitment to improve America's
transportation system."
FHWA discretionary funds are made available upon selection of projects by
the U.S. Secretary of Transportation after it is determined that requests from
states for funds meet criteria established by federal law and U.S. Department
of Transportation (USDOT) regulations and procedures. Congress also makes
decisions on recipients of some grants.
The Discretionary Bridge Program (DBP) was established by the Surface
Transportation Assistance Act of 1978 and has been continued through
subsequent legislation, including the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st
Century (TEA-21), which President Clinton signed into law in June 1998. DBP
consists of two categories: Replacement and Rehabilitation, and Seismic
Retrofit. For fiscal 1998 through fiscal 2003, TEA-21 authorized $525 million
for the DBP. This amount includes $25 million annually for seismic retrofit
for fiscal 1998 through fiscal 2003 and $75 million annually for replacement
and rehabilitation for fiscal 1999 through fiscal 2003.
"Bridges are a critical link in America's transportation network," FHWA
Administrator Kenneth R. Wykle said. "These grants represent the kind of
strategic economic investment that will make our overall transportation system
stronger."
Funds for replacement and rehabilitation projects under the discretionary
bridge program are administered by the FHWA, an agency of the USDOT. The
Department will announce funds for an additional project under this program
tomorrow. Further information about the bridge program is on the Internet at
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov.
Following is a list of the 15 projects:
State Project Funding
Alabama Clement C. Clay Bridge, $8,683,000
US 231 over the Tennessee River
California Oaklawn Pedestrian Bridge, $438,500
South Pasadena
California Santa Clara River Bridge, $5,700,900
Ventura County
Connecticut Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge (Q Bridge), $2,806,600
I-95 across New Haven Harbor
Florida Florida Memorial Bridge, Clearwater $8,770,700
Hawaii Waimalu Viaduct on the H-1 Freeway, $2,982,000
Honolulu
Kansas US 54 across the Marmaton River, $1,754,100
Fort Scott
Maine Fairfield-Benton crossing over the $3,508,300
Kennebec River
Mississippi Woodrow Wilson Bridge, Jackson $2,806,600
Missouri Chouteau Missouri River Bridge, $4,385,300
Kansas City
Montana Powell County bridges (11 bridges) $1,315,600
Rhode Island Washington Bridge, Providence $5,262,400
Vermont Missisquoi Bay Bridge, $3,069,700
Vermont Route 78
Virginia 14th Street Bridge and the $4,385,300
George Washington Memorial Parkway
(Humpback Bridge)
West Virginia Star City Bridge, Monongalia County $5,700,900
Total Amount $61,569,900