Local officials hopeful, but federal hurdles remain
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The state Department of Transportation is optimistic that an intermodal station in Warwick could begin becoming a reality some time this summer.
For a project that has overcome funding concerns, land rights and opposition from some locals, officials say it is now only Congress’ stonewalling of the federal highway transportation bill preventing the start of construction.
First envisioned by former Gov. Lincoln Almond and the late U.S. Sen. John Chafee, the station concept carries a price tag of about $168 million, and has been bandied about since the late 1990s. But according to DOT Director James Capaldi, the project appears poised to clear the last of many hurdles.
Working with Sen. Lincoln Chafee, Capaldi said language has been inserted in the highway bill that would allow the state to spend bridge off-system dollars to support construction of the “people mover” linking the train station to the airport and a parking garage for rental cars. Capaldi said that language is not among the contentious issues, and when the bill does pass, the provision should remain intact to solve the last of the project’s funding questions.
The stalled bill has been a problem for many states, Capaldi said. “We’re losing this year’s construction season,” he said. “Without those funds being available, a lot of things can’t get done.”
Funding will also come through a variety of other sources, including a federal grant originally secured by the late Sen. Chafee, matching funds from the state, money already allocated within the DOT’s budget and through loans, as well as eventual fees that will be charged by the car rental companies that use T.F. Green Airport.
Capaldi said the bill could be passed by the end of May, although if another extension request is approved by Congress, much of the summer work season will be lost.
A smaller obstacle, according to Capaldi, is continuing negotiations involving Amtrak and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority for access maintenance fees. The station was originally planned for access by Amtrak trains, although new safety requirements and about $2 million still separate the state from having a contract with Amtrak. Three years from now, Capaldi said adding Amtrak onto an existing MBTA rail system should be a simpler proposition.
Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian is also hopeful that groundbreaking on the station isn’t far away.
“It’s been discussed for so long, it’s time we break ground and show people we’re serious about this project,” he said.
Even without the start of construction, Avedisian said development is already beginning in the Station Redevelopment District, located on Post Road and Jefferson Boulevard just west of T.F. Green, including the recent soft opening of the Hilton Garden Inn. He said the key to continuing such momentum is that whenever Congress does approve the highway bill, Gov. Donald L. Carcieri ensures that DOT gets authorization to use the funds tabbed for work.
The merits of the project were recently documented in a report by a group of University of Rhode Island graduate students (see related story).
While the students recommended constructing the project in phases, Capaldi said his hope is still that the project can be built to allow everything to open together.
A final design for the people mover is still needed, though Capaldi said the R.I. Airport Corporation has already been in discussions to complete that piece. The plan calls for the people mover to use vehicles similar to those that move people from parking lots to the entrance of amusement parks. He said there will likely be some discussion of an alternative moving sidewalk.
