Charleston Leader

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, recently engaged in discussions with the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation, Sean Duffy, focusing on the issues pertaining to bridge funding and project delays. This exchange marks the beginning of formulating the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill.

During the hearing, Chairman Capito inquired about the significant need for bridge funding, which she emphasized due to the geographical features of her state, including numerous rivers and mountains that necessitate a robust bridge infrastructure. Capito stated, "What can you say about bridges, in terms of what you've seen since you've been there, on improving our nation's bridges? What more would we need to do to address the issues with bridge safety and bridge maintenance?"

Secretary Duffy responded by highlighting the critical nature of bridge safety, stating, "We see that people lose their lives when our bridges aren't safe, and so I know it's a top priority for this committee and for the department as well."

The discussion also touched on the deployment of discretionary grants, where Capito expressed concerns over delays in the execution of grant agreements. She pointed out that many projects promised previously have yet to move forward. Secretary Duffy acknowledged the extensive backlog, noting, "There are 3,200 announced projects at the department that don't have signed grant agreements – 3,200."

The causes of such delays were attributed to various factors, including incomplete environmental reviews and issues related to expanding capacity, as explained by the Secretary. Duffy assured that efforts are underway to address the backlog.