Broadway to Stay Bumpy Thanks to Federal Funding Logjam

Thanks to the federal sequester, the government shutdown and a logjam with the Federal Highway Trust Fund, Newport drivers should get used to the bumps on Broadway, Thames Street and other city roads.

The same goes for work planned on the curbs on America's Cup Avenue, which were supposed to be replaced this spring but now have been put off indefinitely because the of the state's Transportation Improvement Plan money drying up from federal squeeze.

The Newport City Council on Thursday approved a resolution that calls for the state's congressional delegation to support municipalities by ensuring that suitable funding for the Federal Highway Trust is made in addition to enacting a long-term federal transportation funding plan.

Councilor At-Large Naomi L. Neville said she put the resolution on the agenda after she called the state Department of Transportation to find out what was the status of the America's Cup Boulevard curb repairs.

City Manager Jane Howington said the problem stems from the fact the federal trust fund is simply not appropriating money to states. The fund continues to absorb money from the federal gas tax, but since the sequester and shutdown, "the projects started stacking up."

For projects that have already gone through the planning process, it's not a matter if "if" the funding will come up, but "when," Howington said.

But other projects that were supposed to get funding for planning, such as on Thames and Spring Street, aren't imminent at this point.

Ward 3 Councilor Kathryn E. Leonard said she's dismayed because the town worked hard to get the projects, especially Broadway, "shovel ready" because they were assured they'd be funded.

"It's a main artery for the community and as a community, we worked hard . . .to get the project shovel ready," Leonard said. "We're shovel ready, we started the project, we anticipated the money coming in and now we're sitting on a big bumpy road."

Leonard said the resolution is important because the congressional delegation is "who goes to D.C. and looks for progress or looks for a way that this funding can come through."