U.S. Rep Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) said the federal funds allocated for high-speed rail in Wisconsin cannot be redirected to help pay for repairs to Milwaukee’s crumbling Hoan Bridge.
State Sen. Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee) and Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee) had sent a letter to members of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation, asking that $250 million of $810 million in stimulus money for designated for high-speed rail be diverted to re-deck the Hoan Bridge.
Moore told the legislators in a letter today that the federal funds cannot be redirected for the Hoan.
However, Moore suggested some other alternatives to fund the repairs needed for the bridge.
“You suggested that funding headed to Wisconsin to build high-speed rail be diverted and instead used to repair the bridge. That’s just not possible. If Wisconsin does not use that funding as the state requested in an application, the funding goes back to the Federal Railroad Administration and will be used to complete a high-speed rail project in another state,” Moore wrote to the legislators. “Members of my staff have been in contact with representatives at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation regarding a grant program that the city and state could potentially use to help fix the Hoan Bridge.
Pre-applications for the TIGER II grant program are due by July 16, 2010. I have enclosed a summary and background information on those grants and the application process.
{qtube vid:=987AY4ddD4Y w:=580 h:=360 b:=1 c1:=0b8241 c2:=16cc68 ap:=0 rel:=0}
“Additionally, it has come to my attention, that the Federal Highway Administration has recently informed the state that it will receive more than $743 million dollars in Fiscal Year 2010. It’s my understanding that this about $100 million more than the state expected to receive. And as you know, it is up to you and other officials in Madison to decide how to direct this additional federal funding,” Moore wrote.
Moore also said she is prepared to request additional federal funds for the Hoan when the U.S. House of Representatives considers the surface transportation reauthorization bill in the near future.