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Gov. Deval Patrick eyes classic projects, pools, $6M Foxboro footbridge
Christmas could be coming to Massachusetts - in February.As Congress heads for a possible showdown today on a massive $790 billion economic stimulus bill, state officials have unveiled a preliminary "state-reviewed, shovel-ready project" list that includes a new $6 million footbridge across Route 1 near Gillette Stadium and a $6.8 million repair of the concrete ceiling over the Mass Pike just under the Hynes Convention Center. The list, which Gov. Deval Patrick's administration says is not final, includes nearly $4 billion for transportation, energy, health, education and other sectors that might get funding from the federal bill. Most items are classic bricks-and-mortar projects - such as bridge, roadway and school repairs - and new construction, such as public parking garages and visitor centers at state parks. Other items include computers and furniture for schools; phone and computer upgrades for the health-care system; heating systems and solar panels at state facilities; and paint jobs for public buildings and even the Tobin Bridge. Then there are the items sure to capture the public imagination - for good or bad. Some appear to directly contradict previously expressed wishes of Congress, such as no federal money going for swimming pools, museums and the like. The Patrick administration's list has funding requests for swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts, and even to restore fairways at the Ponkapoag Golf Course in Canton. Some listed items fall into the gray area between public and private projects. The New England Patriots [team stats] might one day want to develop 150 acres, now parking lots, across Route 1 from Gillette Stadium and the new Patriot Place shopping center in Foxboro. The land has been designated by the state as a potential "growth district" for biotech companies - so a $6 million pedestrian overpass bridge is on the governor's list. "This is a public safety issue and an economic development issue," said Stacey James, a spokesman for the Patriots and team owner Robert Kraft. Other items on the list include $10 million to restore granite landings and pathways along the Charles River in Boston and $20 million for a new cruise-ship terminal in Salem. Cyndi Roy, a spokeswoman for Patrick, said the list merely reflects the suggestions and requests submitted to state task forces by public agencies, secondary schools and universities. "It's not prioritized," said Roy, noting the state will comply with any restrictions imposed by Congress. The state expects to get only about $1 billion to $2 billion for infrastructure items, so many projects simply won't get funding, she said. Posted by: Fred 2009-02-13 |
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