Funding for the East Bay Bike Path bridges has made its way into the 2022 Appropriations bill that was recently unveiled by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee. 

Senator Jack Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, advocated for $154 million in federal funding for projects across Rhode Island, including $5 million for the bike path bridges. A spokesperson for Sen. Reed’s office confirmed the information earlier this month; the Appropriations bill is separate from the federal infrastructure package.

A press release detailed Sen. Reed’s earmark requests. They included $6.6 million for Rhode Island TF Green International Airport improvements, $5 million for Warwick City Hall Plaza, $2.5 million for parking expansion at Kingston train station, and $5 million for the bike path bridges. Funding for more than 60 projects was included in federal Appropriations bill.

“This slate of Appropriations bills represents a renewed commitment to getting our economy back on track and helping working families and local communities thrive,” Sen. Reed said. “This appropriations package makes targeted investments in strengthening our economy, improving public health and safety, upgrading our infrastructure, raising student achievement in the classroom, and funding critical scientific research.

“…It’s also about making sure that Rhode Island taxpayer dollars benefit Rhode Island. This is about delivering relief and targeted aid to cities, towns, and non-profits so they can better serve communities.”

The promise of federal funding for the East Bay Bike Path bridges arrives as crews continue making improvements to the bridge detours. Recently, the northern sidewalks on the Barrington and Warren vehicle bridges were closed to all pedestrian traffic while workers removed and replaced guardrails and began installing wooden boardwalks. Police details and flaggers have been stationed at both vehicle bridges to assist pedestrians and bicyclists cross the spans.

The bike path bridges have been closed since the fall of 2019, when Rhode Island Department of Transportation officials deemed them unsafe for joggers, walkers, bicyclists and anyone else who wanted to cross them. (The sidewalks on the bridges had been blocked off at an earlier date.)

A detour created by the DOT drew a concerned response from residents, town officials and state legislators, so transportation officials created a series of detour safety improvements. 

Some people worried that the detours would serve as permanent fixes, and that the bike path bridges would not be replaced or renovated. During earlier meetings, residents and town officials asked DOT officials for assurances that the bridges would be rebuilt, but state officials appeared hesitant. 

Part of the issue, they said, was the cost estimate for replacing the bike path bridges. While $10 million had been dedicated to the bridges in the state’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), recent estimates for the work had climbed to about $25 million. 

More recently, however, DOT officials said they had been working with National Grid to reduce the scope of their utility work at the bridges. 

“Once we have reached an agreement with National Grid, we will be ready to send out the RFP,” stated a DOT press release, referring to a request for proposals. 

As for the federal funding, Sen. Reed said, “I’m pleased to work with members of the community here in Rhode Island and bipartisan leaders in the Senate to include this vital, merit-based funding. This is a positive step toward getting these bills enacted and delivering needed funding. I put my name on every one of these earmarks and I will continue working hard to deliver for Rhode Island.”

Featured funding

Following are some examples of the Rhode Island projects that will receive funding through the Appropriations bill.

• FY 22 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations— $39,782,000:

$6.6 million for Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport Improvements, Including Cargo Services

$5 million for East Bay Bike Path Bridges

$5 million for Warwick City Hall Plaza

$4 million for Newport Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) Infrastructure & Resiliency

$3.4 million for Woonasquatucket River Greenway Design and Build Project Along the Woonasquatucket River in Providence

$3.2 million for the Washington Secondary Bike Path

$3 million for a public plaza in the City of Pawtucket’s Transit Oriented Development District

$2.5 million for Lead Remediation for Woonsocket bridges

$2.5 million for Parking Expansion at Kingston Train Station

• FY 22 Interior and Environment Appropriations — $12,600,000:

$3.3 million for Providence Water Lead Service Replacement

$3.2 million to Replace the Lincoln Avenue Water Transmission Line in Warwick

$1.5 million to Upgrade the Warwick Sewer Authority’s SCADA System

$1.35 million for the Prudence Island Water District to Upgrade Drinking Water Infrastructure

$1.175 million for a New Water Main to Improve System Reliability in North Smithfield

• FY 22 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations — $8,036,000:

$1.375 million for the Providence Police Department to Purchase Police Vehicles and Related Equipment

$1.2 million for Thundermist Health Center to Provide Crisis Intervention Team Training for Police

$1 million for Sustainable Seafood Research at the University of Rhode Island

$1 million for Plastics Pollution Research at the University of Rhode Island

$900,000 for Providence Police Department Security Improvements

$300,000 for Save the Bay to Conduct Watershed Education Programs

• FY 22 Homeland Security Appropriations bill appropriations — $75,000,000:

$3.7 million for Skills for Rhode Island’s Future to Expand its Youth Job Training Program

$3 million for the City of Pawtucket to Create a Job Training and Lifelong Learning Center

$1.498 million for Thundermist Health Center to Provide Clinical Care Workforce Development

$1.25 million for Skills for Rhode Island’s Future’s Ready.Set.Work Program to Provide Career Services and Training

$1.2 million for High Performance Computing Technology for the University of Rhode Island

$1 million for Laboratory Improvements at Roger Williams University

$1 million for Technology Improvements at the Community College of Rhode Island