Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) program administrators are working to execute agreements for the federal Bridge Investment Program and Mega Grant Program before the end of the federal fiscal year. Securing these agreements is critical to ensure the project does not lose over $500 million in currently available federal grant funding. Additionally, the program is pursuing a $1 billion Capital Investment Grant to help fund the construction of the project's light rail and transit components by 2030.
Cross_cutting
City Council Workshops · Apr 27, 2026 · 1:46:06–1:46:27 · Watch on CVTV ↗
Keywords: federal grant
What was said
1:45:06 really limited what options that we had. We were trying to figure out how to get the bridge across the river started and underway. The long-term vision is still to complete to Evergreen, and the interest is in working with the partners to figure out how to both complete that and also complete the rest of the five-mile program. So I know that there's vested interest in getting to Evergreen. We want to work with folks on that and finding a way to animate construction now with the funds that we have, because the cheapest bridge that you can build is the bridge you start building today. We needed to find a way to sort of start this program and get it underway. It's been far too long. So I know the timeline has changed for delivery, but the commitment to getting the full five miles done has not changed from the states. Next slide. We will continue, and this is a dialogue with partners as well
1:46:00 as internally, to look for cost-saving opportunities, you know, design refinements, value engineering, risk management, pursuing what other federal grants may be out there, and also talking with the states about other, you know, maybe cost savings or funding and financing opportunities. So we're looking at under every cushion to try to figure out how to find pathways for this forward, and there's a long horizon over which to do that, but the states are committed to doing that work. Next slide. So I think we've mentioned most of these before, but really critical, as I mentioned, you know, getting to September is so important for us, and keeping on time with the record of decision is essential to that. Getting our financial plan in and validated by the federal government is essential for that, and then getting these grant agreements reviewed and executed between the parties, all essential to retaining the half a billion dollars, the over half a billion dollars that would otherwise elapse by the
1:47:00 end of September. The other piece then is really animating construction, as we've talked about, so issuing those procurement documents, and also working inside the office to understand what does it mean to transition this program that has been heavily in the planning and environmental phase into one that is ready to administer construction of, you know, frankly the largest construction program that either state has really ever seen in the transportation
Evidence (1 match)
cross_cutting keyword 1:46:06–1:46:27 federal grant
e has not changed from the states. Next slide. We will continue, and this is a dialogue with partners as well as internally, to look for cost-saving opportunities, you know, design refinements, value engineering, risk management, pursuing what other federal grants may be out there, and also talking with the states about other, you know, maybe cost savings or funding and financing opportunities. So we're looking at under every cushion to try to figure out how to find pathways for this forward, an