Langevin Votes to Make Infrastructure Investments and Deliver $19 Million to Repair Rhode Island Roads and Trails
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| Photo credit: Save the Bay |
Rep. Jim
Langevin (D-RI), co-chair of the Congressional Career and Technical
Education (CTE) Caucus, voted today for H.R. 3684, the
INVEST in America Act, to take the first step in repairing our nation’s aging
infrastructure, combat climate change, and create good-paying jobs for Rhode
Islanders.
Rep.
Langevin managed to secure nearly $19 million to fund critical repairs for
Rhode Island roads and trails in the final bill, including $10.4 million
to improve roads Westerly and Charlestown, $4.4 million to repair roads in
Cranston, and $4 million to connect a key stretch of the East Coast
Greenway in Coventry.
The
INVEST Act also included provisions
from Rep. Langevin’s Disability Access to Transportation Act (DATA), a
bill to break down barriers in transportation for people with disabilities. It also included the 21st Century
Transportation Workforce Development Act, a bill to establish a
public-private partnership task force dedicated to improving pathways into the
transportation workforce and create more good-paying jobs.
The
bipartisan INVEST Act passed the House by a vote of 221-201.
“My colleagues and I passed a significant infrastructure bill that will fund long overdue improvements to our ancient roads and bridges, reduce harmful carbon emissions, and create millions of good-paying jobs. I’m especially thrilled that I was able to include nearly $19 million for key projects in my district, to make the Ocean State safer and more accessible for all,” said Rep. Jim Langevin.
“Americans have been counting on Congress to fix our
nation’s crumbling infrastructure, and today we delivered. Although I’m still
awaiting details on President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure proposal, I’m
confident that today’s vote provides a solid foundation on which to build a
once-in-a-generation investment.”
The
INVEST Act includes funding for the following Rhode
Island projects:
$10.4 million to improve Post Road, Old Post Road,
and Tamanaco Drive in Westerly and Charlestown, which will be used
for pavement resurfacing, guardrail installation, and accessibility
improvements to the rich cultural and historical resources located along the
Scenic Highway.
$4.4 million to improve Trestle Trail in Coventry,
which will be used to connect a key stretch of the East Coast Greenway -- an
accessible biking/walking route from Key West, Florida, to Maine -- and boost
tourism, create jobs, and spur economic development in the Coventry area.
$4 million to improve Bald Hill Road and New London
Avenue in Warwick and Cranston, which will be used to resurface the roadways,
install new markings and signage, and smooth the commute for Rhode Islanders
traveling across the state.
The Disability
Access to Transportation Act will:
Establish a one-stop paratransit pilot program so
that riders can schedule an intermediate stop during their trips,
Reauthorize and increase funding for Section 5310
mobility grants,
Streamline the reporting process for accessibility
complaints,
Require the Department of Transportation
and Department of Justice to adopt the U.S. Access Board’s proposed Public
Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines as enforceable standards.
Reed
weighs in
WPRI reports on an announcement from Senator
Jack read that RI will get $206,000 under the 2021 BEACH Act Funding. The money
will be used by the RI Department of Health to monitor water quality at our
beaches.
Reed said “Back In 2003, we had over 500 beach
closure days. In 2020, there were 51 days where water quality wasn’t healthy
for swimmers. That’s a significant improvement, but we want to get it down to
zero and keep it there.”
