RI congressional delegation asks Trump admin to release funds for Washington Bridge, local projects

A new letter from Rhode Island’s congressional delegation to the federal Office of Management and Budget asks the office’s acting director, Matthew Vaeth, to confirm that all previously approved funding for local projects will be released to the state.

Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo, signed on to the letter, which reads in part, “We are alarmed that the Administration is blocking the release of over $600 million in competitive grant funding for more than ten Rhode Island transportation projects.”

These transportation grants include $221 million for the Washington Bridge (broken into a $125 million mega grant and a $95.6 million INFRA grant), as well as more than $250 million for bridges along the state’s I-95 corridor.

“These are essential projects that have already been evaluated and selected in a competitive process for funding,” the lawmakers wrote. “We ask that you promptly confirm that all of these funds, as well as others being held for review, will be released to the State.” [...] Read full article.