For the third time Massachusetts has struck out trying to obtain funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. The Cape Cod Bridge replacement project has been turned down twice, and now the massive I-90 Allston Turnpike realignment project has also been rejected.
The commonwealth was seeking $1.2 billion toward the $2 billion cost of the project. The plan would entail removing the aging and deteriorating viaduct carrying the turnpike over an old rail yard, then realigning the turnpike, Soldiers Field Road and commuter rail tracks all at ground level. The result would not only straighten out the old Pike but open up more than 100 acres of land in Allston for development. It would create green space, allow for a bike and pedestrian path along the Charles River and reunite neighborhoods divided by the elevated highway — all laudable goals, and ones that fit the requirements of the federal grant program, or at least that’s what the proponents thought.
“There was some sense on all our parts that since we hadn't yet finalized the permit that the application might be premature,” said Rick Dimino, CEO of A Better City, one of the primary movers of the plan. “But we all felt that it was a good idea to get an application in because getting this I-90 multimodal project in front of the federal government and having them know that Massachusetts and the city of Boston is taking this seriously was important.”
He said they've received letters of support from lawmakers, and that he believes there’s hope for the project being recognized in future funding rounds.
But looking at the failure of all three grant applications, Dimino admitted that Massachusetts must "gear up" to be more competitive.
“That means being ready and studying the time frame, the design and permitting and also showing where the matching funds might be available. … While we didn't do that well in this round, we really do have to lean in on doing it as much as we can to show the federal government that we're ready to go and we can advance these projects,” he said.
