Congressman John Olver: News

Sponsored
Legislation

Co-Sponsored Legislation

Press Release: April 2, 2004

Congressman John W. Olver
1027 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-2101

Tel: 202-225-5335
Fax: 202-226-1224

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OLVER ANNOUNCES HOUSE APPROVES TRANSPORTATION BILL

Bill Includes Funding For Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Projects

WASHINGTON - Congressman John W. Olver (1st District) announced that the House of Representatives today passed the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEAL-U), a six-year, $275 billion authorizing bill which funds the nation's highways, bridges, mass transit systems and bicycle pathways. The bill passed by a 387-65 vote.

"This bill ensures that Massachusetts - particularly western and central Massachusetts - will continue to receive its fair share of federal highway dollars," Olver said. "This legislation to fund our roads, bridges, bike paths and highways is long overdue."

TEA-LU builds upon the successes of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) of 1998, which expired on September 30, 2003. Since then, Congress has had to pass two short-term extensions of TEA-21.

This bill (H.R. 3550) includes:

$5 Million for Southwick and Westfield Rail Trail

The Southwick Rails to Trails and Westfield Columbia Greenway comprise a 9.5-mile multi-use trail located along a former railroad bed. The trail will stretch from the Connecticut border north through Southwick for 6.3 miles and Westfield for 3.2 miles ending at the Great River Bridge on the Westfield River.

In Southwick, the bike path will follow the line of an abandoned railroad track, while the Westfield portion will run through the center of the city on an elevated light rail bed. The project includes paving, the installation of a tunnel, reconstruction of a dry bridge, rehabilitation of stone arch culvert and four roadway crossings.

When complete, the two projects will create a 48-acre linear park with a variety of unique land features including stone outcroppings, streams, native wildlife habitats and farms.

$6 Million for Hampshire County Bike Paths

Several Hampshire County bike path projects will be eligible for funding through this earmark. The first is the resurfacing and realignment of the Norwottuck Rail Trail, which runs from Amherst through Hadley and into Northampton. The trail's four-foot-wide lanes will be widened to six feet to meet current safety requirements, the trail will be repaved to remove the recycled glass mixture that is currently in the trail, and the trail will be realigned to improved safety, particularly at the tunnel at Route 9 in Hadley.

Another project is the creation of a series of bikeway connections through Northampton. Some examples are a connection between downtown Northampton and the existing Manhan and Norwottuck Rail Trails. Another connector is the Look Park extension, which extends northwest from Route 9 in Northampton through the Leeds section of the city.

The earmark also makes funding available for the development of a Five College bike path extension in North Amherst from the University of Massachusetts into Franklin County.

Finally, the creation of the Ware River Valley Rail Trail is eligible for funding. The rail trail extends 3.5 miles north from Grenville Park on the abandoned Boston & Maine rail bed along the river to the Hardwick town line, meeting up with a proposed bike path in Hardwick.

"Together, these projects will comprise the backbone of a regional network of bike paths and safe walkways that connect 43 cities and towns in the Pioneer Valley," Olver said. "When complete, the network of bike paths will serve as a transportation link to major residential, commercial and recreational resources."

$1.9 Million for Canalside Rail Trail in Deerfield and Montague

The Canalside Rail Trail will be a nearly 4-mile off-road bike path for use by residents, tourists and commuters in the region.

Construction of the trail is being done in two sections. This funding will allow for construction of a portion of the rail trail from McClelland Farm Road in Deerfield to Montague City Road in Montague and for completion of the trail in its entirety. Another segment of the trail - from Montague City Road to Turners Falls - is scheduled to be constructed this spring and summer and was funded through TEA-21 and an earmark in the FY03 transportation appropriations bill.

A portion of the trail will run along land near the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls, an educational center focusing on the history, environment and cultural significance of the Connecticut River. Another highlight of the trail is a former railroad bridge that crosses the Connecticut River. This bridge will become part of the trail. When completed, this bridge will provide a breathtaking view of the river and will be the centerpiece of the bicycle path.

$2.3 Million for Meridian Street Bridge in Greenfield

The Meridian Street Bridge in Greenfield crosses the Green River connecting Deerfield Street (Routes 5 & 10) with the former Greenfield Tap and Die (GTD) complex. Replacement of this bridge is critical to the successful redevelopment of the GTD site, a 7.5-acre brownfield site owned by the town of Greenfield. The 1917 bridge is functionally obsolete and needs to be replaced to accommodate large trucks and firefighting equipment, as well as increased automobile, bicycle and pedestrian traffic that would be generated through redevelopment of the GTD site.

The bridge's current weight limit of 15 tons and three-axle truck limit prohibit most firefighting vehicles from using the bridge as access to the Green River Elementary School and the surrounding residential neighborhood. Instead, emergency vehicles have to use a 2.5-mile detour.
The Meridian Street Bridge replacement is part of the town's ongoing effort to rehabilitate the Deerfield Street corridor.

$4.8 Million for Charlemont Bridge

The Charlemont Bridge is a three-span steel girder bridge carrying the state highway Route 2 over the Deerfield River in the town of Charlemont. Route 2 is a major east-west artery connecting New York State and western Massachusetts to points east and a route for the movement of commodities and freight.

The Charlemont Bridge, built in 1955, was not designed to carry today's truck loads, hindering the movement of goods and services along this important transportation corridor.

The funding will allow for rehabilitation of the bridge, including the removal of the existing deck, placement of cover plates on the existing girders over the piers for additional capacity and installation of a new composite deck structure. The project also includes 20 meters of approach work on either side of the bridge structure. Elimination of the weight restrictions will lower the cost of transportation and ultimately improve air quality in the region because of reduced emissions.The Senate in February passed its version of the highway bill, S. 1072 or the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003 (SAFETEA). The House and Senate bills now move to a conference committee so that differences can be worked out.

Under TEA-LU, Massachusetts is expected to receive $3.6 billion in federal highway funding and $1.4 billion in transit funding.

Olver said, "As this bill continues to move forward, I will fight to keep western and central Massachusetts projects in the final version that is ultimately signed by the president."

Olver is Senior Democrat of the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, which will be responsible for some of the annual funding distributions under the final, six-year TEA-LU/SAFETEA plan.

# # #

Additional media contacts:
Southwick Bike Path: Town Administrator Karl Steinhart, 413-569-5995
Westfield Bike Path: Mayor Rick Sullivan, 413-572-6200
Hampshire County Bike Paths: Jeff McCollough, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, 413-781-6045
Meridian Street Bridge: Greenfield Mayor Christine Forge, 413-772-1580
Canalside Rail Trail: Beth Giannini, Franklin Regional Council of Governments, 413-774-1194 ext. 104
Charlemont Bridge: Ross Dindio, Mass Highway Region 1, 413-637-1750