Scholarship Information < Archived News:
UCANE E-News
March 20, 2009
Submitted by Michael Galli
Legislative Liaison
House Passes Major Water Bill… Attention Now Points To Senate
With the assistance of the Clean Water Construction Coalition, a major water Bill was approved by the House of Representatives yesterday. H.R. 1262, “Water Quality Investment Act of 2009”, was approved by a vote of 317-101. The bipartisan legislation renews the Federal Government’s commitment to clean water by authorizing $19.4 billion over the next five years for wastewater infrastructure and other efforts to improve water quality.
The centerpiece of this legislation is the authorization of $13.8 billion over five years for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (“Clean Water SRF”), which is the principal source of Federal funding for meeting the nation’s wastewater infrastructure needs.
The next step for our Coalition is to focus our attention on the Senate. The Coalition will be reaching out to Senator Barbara Boxer (CA), chairperson of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and James Inhofe, ranking Republican on the Committee. In addition, we will be working with Senator Benjamin Cardin (MD) who now chairs a new subcommittee, Water and Wildlife, of the full committee.
Governor Announces $125M Chelsea Street Bridge Project
Governor Patrick announced that construction has started on the $125 million project to replace the vertical drawbridge over Chelsea Creek which connects Boston and Chelsea. Federal, state and municipal officials hailed the Chelsea Street Bridge project as a major victory for the local community and regional economy, noting the project will create or maintain 150 jobs, enhance community access and improve public safety by expanding tanker clearance.
In the last two weeks, the federal government granted the state the authority to spend $437.9 million on transportation projects through federal highway funds, with $153.2 million of that funding committed to “shovel-ready” projects. As shown below, the Patrick Administration put the first eight recovery projects out to bid, dedicating an estimated total of approximately $30 million for infrastructure improvements in every region of the state.
Patrick Administration Announces First 8 "Shovel-Ready" Highway Projects
Last week, the Patrick Administration released the first eight highway projects, totaling approximately $30M, using Federal Stimulus Funds under HR 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Under HR 1, Massachusetts was authorized to spend $437.9M on highway projects where $153.2M was dedicated to “Shovel-Ready” projects advertised for bid in 120 days.
“These initial shovel-ready projects address the important basic road maintenance needs that were identified by our partners at the federal, state, regional, and local level,” said Transportation Secretary James Aloisi, Jr. “We will put people to work making our roads safer this spring, and we are just getting started.”
The first eight projects include:
- Adams-1.5 miles of resurfacing and sidewalk reconstruction on Route 116
- Bourne-Resurfacing on Route 6 (Scenic Highway) from Nightingale Pond Road to Bourndale Road.
- Bridgewater-Middleborough- Resurfacing Route 18 & Route 28 from Bridgewater Center to Middleborough Rotary
- Gill-Erving-Orange-Wendell- Resurfacing of 3.6 miles on Route 2
- Harvard-Littleton-Resurfacing of 4.4 miles on Route 2
- Lexington-Reading- Route 128 (I-95), Traffic and guide sign replacement
- Swansea- Resurfacing Route 6 from Somerset town line to Rehoboth town line
- Westport-Resurfacing of 4.6 miles on Route 6
Displayed in the “Massachusetts Recovery and Reinvestment Plan” section of www.mass.gov, is the map of the eight projects as seen below.
Learn About The Massachusetts. Recovery & Reinvestment Plan
Posted on the “Massachusetts Recovery and Reinvestment Plan” section of www.mass.gov, is a link where you can “Learn About the Massachusetts Recovery Plan”. In this section, you can find Governor Patrick’s printable Massachusetts Works Pamphlet, The Massachusetts Recovery Plan Mission and a presentation from the Executive Office of Administration and Finance on a comprehensive overview of the impact of federal stimulus funding on Massachusetts. The presentation includes information on how much money Massachusetts will receive, how it will flow to the Commonwealth and how it can be spent.
Mass. Legislators Agree To Delay Toll Hike
Lawmakers will take more time to review other options to fix Mass.’s crumbling transportation system while giving motorists a break until the summer before facing toll hikes and/or an increase to the State’s gas tax. Yesterday, Patrick acknowledged that lawmakers have yet to agree on either structural changes or the gas tax. “We don’t have a deal yet” Patrick said. “We have a pathway, I think, to a deal. And it’s enough of a clear pathway to take the costs and risks associated with putting off the toll increase.”
New “Move Over Law” Takes Effect March 22, 2009
The new “Move Over Law”, which takes effect March 22, 2009, aims to protect police, firefighters, paramedics, tow truck drivers, and all roadside emergency and maintenance workers. The law requires all drivers approaching a stationary emergency or maintenance vehicle with flashing lights to move to the next adjacent lane if it is safe to do so, and, barring that, to reduce their speed. Drivers who violate the Move Over Law face a fine of up to $100.
MassHighway Commissioner Luisa Paiewonsky said: “Obeying the Move Over Law will help protect drivers, as well as officers and highway workers, from needless injury or even death. Highway safety is a top priority in Massachusetts thanks to a strong partnership among agencies who are dedicated to saving lives and reducing injuries on our roadways. This law is an important step in improving road safety.”
For more information, go to www.mass.gov/highwaysafety.
UCANE/CIM Meeting Re: Diesel Retrofits
UCANE and CIM members met last week in a joint effort to discuss Diesel Retrofit issues both Associations share. UCANE and CIM members will be meeting with DEP and MHD officials Monday, March 23, 2009 to discuss language in the MassHighway specifications directly relating to Diesel Retrofits. Details of the meeting will be provided to UCANE members.
CWCC Members Meet In San Diego CA
UCANE President Joe Pacella, Phil Jasset and other CWCC members met in San Diego this month to discuss the Stimulus Bill and the process required for States to utilize the funds. There were also updates on the 2009 Congressional SRF appropriations, Congressman Oberstar’s SRF Reauthorization update and discussions of the Clean Water SRF. Phil suggested that CWCC work together with the Northeast Midwest Congressional Coalition, in an effort to strengthen our voice. Phil’s suggestion was taken under advisement. There will be a May 19, 2009 CWCC meeting in Washington, DC that UCANE members will attend.
UCANE Dinner Meeting Federal Stimulus & MA SRF Update
Nothing is more important to our members than getting water and sewer work on-the-street, and being able to plan their bidding and work strategies during the coming months. This is a “Must Attend” meeting for members to learn the details contained in the Stimulus Bill and MA SRF programs. Especially the infrastructure provisions which are expected to help jump start the economy.
Water Pollution Abatement Trust Executive Director Scott Jordan will discuss the timeline for spending with regard to projects coming out to bid. The Trust administers the SRF loan programs that provide funding to cities, towns, and other governmental units, and private entities for the purpose of financing improvements to drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
DEP Director of Municipal Services Steve McCurdy will give an update on how SRF Stimulus funds will be appropriated for grants, loans and upcoming projects, and will supply a list of Stimulus projects.
Mark your calendars as a “Must Attend” meeting
Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Time: 6:00 PM – Social Hour
7:00 PM – Dinner
Location: Four Points by Sheraton Hotel
Providence Highway (Route 1)
Norwood, MA 02062
Price: $60 per person (Advance registration)
$65 at the door
NOTE: Please contact the UCANE office at 617-471-9955 for further details.
Five Additional Communities Join “No Discharge” Areas
The coastal waters of Revere, Saugus, Lynn, Nahant and Swampscott, Mass. will be protected as “No Discharge Areas,” where discharges of treated and untreated boat sewage would be prohibited. The area is between Boston Harbor and Salem Sound.
This is an important landmark in EPA’s efforts to designate the majority of New England waters as No Discharge, because now all Mass. waters from Manchester-By-The-Sea to Provincetown and Cape Cod Bay require boats to use sanitary pumpout facilities. In order to qualify for a No Discharge designation, there must be sufficient pumpout facilities where boaters can get their holding tanks pumped out. This area in particular has an estimated 1222 boats, of which only 660 are large enough to have a toilet on board. There are two pumpout facilities in the area – one fixed shore pumpout station, and the other is a pumpout boat.
Additional areas throughout New England with No Discharge areas include: All State marine waters of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire; in Massachusetts: Harwich, Waquoit Bay, Nantucket Harbor, Wellfleet, Barnstable, and Buzzards Bay (including Wareham and Westport), Plymouth/Duxbury/Kingston, Scituate/Marshfield/Cohasset, Salem Sound, Boston Harbor, and Cape Cod Bay; and Casco Bay, Maine.
Tel: (617) 471-9955 • Fax: (617) 471-8939 • 300 Congress Street, Suite 101 • Quincy, MA 02169