Bridge Grant Still Alive

The bridge to nowhere could be going somewhere if state officials approve the first part of a grant this fall.

The town’s public works director, Remo “Butch” Vito, told selectmen last week that state officials may allow the town to divide into two parts a proposed bridge over the railroad tracks extending Boardman Street into the commuter rail parking lot.

In 2009 town officials had a cost estimate of $3.15 million to build the bridge a related roadway.

The idea is to siphon off commuters from Franklin who park in Norfolk and take the commuter rail before they ever reach the town center.Supporters say the bridge could lessen traffic in the town center and therefore spur commercial development of that area.

The cost is more than what the state allows for Public Works Economic Development grants (known as PWED), but Vito told selectmen last week that state officials may allow Norfolk a grant to build the road in one year and a second grant to build the bridge the year after that.

Town officials can use mitigation funds contributed by a developer for the town’s portion of the project, Vito said. The mitigation funds can only be used for projects in Norfolk Center.

Vito said the town can build extra parking spaces for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter rail parking lot, since the road from the bridge would take some existing commuter rail parking spaces away. The town can also rezone some nearby properties as commercial in hopes of spurring commercial development, Vito told the selectmen during the working-session board meeting Tuesday, July 13.

Selectman Rob Garrity, who has been skeptical of the bridge project, wondered whether the developer’s mitigation funds could be used elsewhere.

“Is there any other use for this mitigation money?” Garrity asked. “So we can’t use it outside that district. Is there anything else in that district that this would be better spent for?”

Vito, who has been pushing for the bridge for several years, sees it as an important piece in trying to increase economic development in Norfolk.

Town Administrator Jack Hathaway asked how much the town might have to pay for the second portion of the project, meaning the bridge. Vito said perhaps $200,000 to $300,000.

Vito said he should find out if the state approves the road portion of the project this coming September.

“There is a risk, though. We could build the first phase and not get the PWED the second phase,” Hathaway said.

That would presumably leave the town with a road to nowhere.

Vito said he hopes the town applies for the bridge grant from the state in June 2011.