Senate passes transportation law potentially helping RI highways

December 7, 2015 6:18 pm

By Ana Bottary

abottary@abc6.com

@anabottary

Rusted metal braces and crumbling concrete. It’s the visible deterioration seen from underneath the 6–10 connector in Providence. Rhode Island politicians say it would be the prime candidate for the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, which was recently passed by Congress.

"This measure will provide over 1.35 billion dollars to Rhode Island over the next five years," says Senator Jack Reed.

It also includes a grant program for states with major infrastructure needs, funding eligible highway, freight rail, and port projects.

"In this bill there is a program that will allow the state to bid for access to this program. If they get access to this program the Federal Government can pay as much as 80 percent of the entire project. It’s for big projects," says Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.

Governor Gina Raimondo says it’s hard to map out a few years worth of funding with no long term plan, and that receiving this grant would help repair the 6–10 connector, which she calls a danger.

"Because we have neglected that for so long, fixing the 6–10 connector now is a 400 million dollar project," says Governor Raimondo.

She adds, if Rhode Island receives the grant, it will also provide thousands of jobs to Rhode Islanders.