Wednesday, August 25, 2010 — This just in from Save Our Bridges‘ Ben Porter:
Maine Offers Half a Loaf
As we read in this morning’s Portsmouth Herald, New Hampshire filed for TIGER II funding for replacement of the Memorial Bridge. Thanks to all of you who provided your support as well. It is a shame that that Maine’s support was so lame in the process. Let me clear things up:
New Hampshire submitted the Application on its own
The application for TIGER II funding was submitted by New Hampshire alone. This is in spite of the fact that the Memorial Bridge is jointly owned by both New Hampshire and Maine. The US DOT made it clear earlier this year that for the application to make it past the first review it must be submitted by both states. Only New Hampshire submitted the application for funding. The application was sent under the signature of NH Commissioner of Transportation George Campbell.
Baldacci offered his “support” to the project
You probably read in the Portsmouth Herald that Governor Baldacci sent a letter of support for the project. His letter, along with that of NH Governor John Lynch, was filed in the application along with all the other 150 letters of support, giving it perhaps a little more weight than your own letters. It was not a letter of submission. In the first TIGER grant application both Commissioners signed the application for funding. In this round, only New Hampshire signed.
Notable by its absence was any support from Maine DOT
It is difficult to see what is not there, but in this case the absence is glaring. There is no input to the proposal at all from the Maine Department of Transportation. While Governor Baldacci’s letter emphasizes that there is a need for extraordinary funding for the bridge projects, there is absolutely no effort from the Maine Department of Transportation to secure the “extraordinary funding” being offered by the TIGER II program. I would have thought that extraordinary funding would require extraordinary effort to secure the funding. What is extraordinary is the absence of effort on the part of Maine.
Support from our US Senators and Representatives will be difficult
Senators Collins and Snowe have been especially helpful to us in this process. Senator Collins put Secretary LaHood on record as giving our application for funding special attention. Assistant Secretary of Transportation Joel Szabo even came to Kittery to personally review the status of the Memorial Bridge. Representative Chellie Pingree has been supportive in both Washington and in her contacts within the State government. But the application will have to get through the first round of review before it gets to the Secretary’s desk. Since it is submitted by only one state, and since the support from Maine is tepid at best, we are unlikely to even get the chance to leverage the enthusiasm of our Senators and Representatives. All in all, this has all the earmarks of a wild goose chase.
Our only hope is the next State Government
Sadly I have to classify the current administration in Augusta as hopeless. All we can do now is Hope for Change, and pray that NH DOT is able to work miracles and keep the bridge open till decisions can be made.
MDOT was unable to agree on a solution a year ago, and forced the Connections Study. A year has passed, more than $2 million of our tax dollars have been spent, and Maine and New Hampshire still disagree. And the Memorial Bridge has gone from a 10 ton limit to a 3 ton limit. Instead of a decision, we are being told there will be Alternatives presented. That is where the process started. I feel like a character in “Alice through the Looking Glass”, but I am not sure which one. To expect that anyone in Augusta will make a decision at this point is delusional.
Stay tuned for my take on the candidates.
Ben Porter
Save Our Bridges!
www.SeacoastBridges.com
A Coalition of Seacoast Local, Portsmouth Historical Soc., Seacoast for Change Grassroots Network,Kittery Business Association, York County Chamber of Commerce, KEYS, Am. Legion Booma Post, and others
Having lived in both States, I would only have you look at the unemployment and educational differences. And then look at how Maine treats the whole subject of tourism.
NH long ago learned to smile, welcome tourists, take the money, pat them on the rear, and know they’ll be back again next year. Maine takes the money. Maine is a proud and independent State, unfortunately split into three sections, the South, the North, and the Coastal. Also known as the poor, the working, and the retired wealthy.