Congressman Neal, Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, made the announcement with Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Springfield Department of Public Works Director Chris Cignoli at the Armory Street bridges at the intersections of Warwick Street in the north and Taylor Street in the south. The project here would consist of replacing two bridges – one which carries Armory Street over the active CSX railroad tracks and the other carrying Armory Street over the abandoned railroad. Massachusetts Department of Transportation has this project on their statewide transportation improvement program list.
“Modernized and improved bridges statewide will provide safety for all users, and create good-paying jobs for workers,” said Congressman Neal. “Bridges are vital pieces of our infrastructure - not only to our daily commutes, but also to emergency vehicles and the trucks that are making deliveries in our communities. I am grateful to the Biden Administration for making this promise that will be the catalyst for significant investment here in western and central Massachusetts a reality.”
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated, “This vital federal funding for our bridges, the largest investment in American history from the Federal Highway Administration’s bridge formula program, is a game changer. This bipartisan investment from the federal infrastructure law to improve our local infrastructure is made possible thanks to President Biden and our own Congressman, Chairman of the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means Richard Neal who, once a mayor always a mayor, truly knows what is needed to keep our local municipal infrastructure from failing. It is thanks to these funding opportunities that we can address our local infrastructure needs. Too often we see across the nation important and vital infrastructure such as bridges fail. Luckily, here in the Commonwealth and in the City of Springfield we have local, state and federal leadership who understand that to keep our public roadways and bridges in working order we must continue to invest in our local infrastructure projects such as these Armory Street bridges.”
The funding from the FHWA’s Bridge Formula Program (BFP) is available to improve the condition of 472 bridges listed in poor condition in Massachusetts.
Nationwide, the BFP is expected to help repair approximately 15,000 bridges. While states normally must match federal funding with up to 20 percent state or local funding, the guidance issued last week notes that federal funds can be used for 100 percent of the cost of repairing or rehabilitating such locally owned off-system bridges.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is thrilled to launch this program to fix thousands of bridges across the country – the largest investment of its kind in U.S. history,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Modernizing America’s bridges will help improve safety, support economic growth and make people’s lives better in every part of the country – in rural, suburban, city, and tribal communities.”
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure, which will grow the economy, enhance U.S. competitiveness in the world, create good jobs, and make our transportation system more sustainable and equitable.
For more information on the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Formula Program funding to states click here.
