WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today sent a letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Ray LaHood, expressing strong support for the applications of four Maine projects seeking to obtain competitive Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grants. Projects involving the Port of Eastport Breakwater, Howland-Penobscot River Bridge, Sarah-Mildred Long Bridge, and Downeaster train are all seeking TIGER grants in order to improve key transportation related assets.

“TIGER funding is critically important to these rural Maine infrastructure projects that address a wide variety of transportation tenets of DOT’s project guidelines,” Senators Collins and King wrote. “Each project seeks to address both direct and indirect safety concerns, proceed in a timely manner, and bring existing transportation facilities into good repair, all while creating economic opportunity in rural areas of Maine.”

The full text of the letter is below:

May 30, 2013

The Honorable Ray LaHood

Secretary

U.S. Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE

Washington, D.C.  20590

Dear Secretary LaHood:

We are writing to express our strong support for the Maine projects applying for funding through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) V discretionary grant program. The projects, detailed below, are ideal candidates for funding as they meet each of the goals of the TIGER program by supporting regional and state transportation and economic goals. The applications submitted on behalf of Maine include:

• Port of Eastport Breakwater – This project proposes to replace the port’s current breakwater, which was built to protect the port from wave action. The current breakwater is failing and has led to significant damage to this important port of entry. The new barrier will use composite materials to strengthen its protection. Eastport is an important commercial port of entry and serves as the safe harbor for the vessels of the US Coast Guard Station in Eastport. 

• Howland-Penobscot River Bridge – This project proposes to replace the Howland-Penobscot River Bridge, which spans the Penobscot River between Howland and Enfield (State Route 155). The current bridge is in disrepair with structural deficiencies, inadequate width, and significant scour issues. The bridge is classified as Structurally Deficient by the Federal Highway Administration.

• Sarah Mildred Long Bridge – This project proposes the replacement of the rail portion of the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge connecting Kittery, ME and Portsmouth, NH. The bridge’s rail component supports an important national security need, enabling the safe and efficient transportation of spent nuclear fuel from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The Federal Highway Administration has classified the bridge as structurally deficient, and noted its truss spans are fracture critical, meaning that the failure of steel tension members could result in collapse.

• Downeaster – This project proposes track improvements including a “wye track” in Portland and to construct additional tracks west from Royal Junction. The wye track will eliminate the need for Downeaster trains to backup and reverse directions when travelling between Portland and Brunswick, Maine. The Royal Junction addition will allow the Downeaster to run five daily round-trips.

In addition, we would like to bring your attention to an application being submitted by the New Hampshire Department of Transportation for the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad.

The project upgrades 20.6 miles of the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad in Essex and Orleans Counties in Vermont and Coos County in New Hampshire. This project represents the final stage to finish upgrading the rail line which runs from Maine to the Vermont-Quebec border and is supported by the Maine Department of Transportation.

TIGER funding is critically important to these rural Maine infrastructure projects that address a wide variety of transportation tenets of DOT’s project guidelines. Each project seeks to address both direct and indirect safety concerns, proceed in a timely manner, and bring existing transportation facilities into good repair, all while creating economic opportunity in rural areas of Maine.    

We are confident that TIGER V National Infrastructure Investment funds will create jobs, improve key transportation related assets, and provide regional economic growth and vitality. We respectfully request that you give these applications every appropriate consideration, subject to all applicable laws and regulations.

Sincerely,

                        Susan M. Collins                                                         Angus S. King, Jr.

                        United States Senator                                                 United States Senator

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