Mapp Says It’s The U.S. Government’s Responsibility To Make Sure VI Roads Are Up To Federal Standards

ST. CROIX — Governor Kenneth Mapp responded to the preliminary passage of Congress’ Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act, which only included a $2 million addition to the $40 million that U.S. territory’s already receive annually, of which the Virgin Islands sees $16 million — a far cry from the lobbied increase to $75 million — by stating that he will continue to work with members of Congress to further initiatives beneficial to the territory.

“This is a work in progress,” Mr. Mapp begain. “This is a mark-up within the transportation and infrastructure committee. We will continue to work with our partners in the house and senate, including the house ways and means committee to advance the territory’s objective in achieving realistic allotments for highway improvements.”

Under the Mapp proposal, territorial governments would use the entire amount of requested new funding for construction of new roadways and related infrastructure improvements that meet current federal standards, which Mapp said would represent a significant improvement over existing roadway conditions. Mr. Mapp contended that the Virgin Islands would return to a lesser funding level under the Territorial Highway Program to maintain the new road system once the territory’s highway infrastructure had been rebuilt.

But Congress’ recent approval of only $2 million in additional funding left the governor powerless in his response, and said that it remains the duty the U.S. government to ascertain that roads within the territory are up to federal stands.

“It’s not the Governor’s personal objective to gain more funds,” Mr. Mapp continued. “The US government has a responsibility to citizens living within the territories to have roads within the federal intermodal system being brought up to standards.

“Over 2 million American citizens visit the VI each year and they as well as residents living in the territory should be able to travel on safe and properly constructed roads and highways. $16m per year cannot accomplish this task. I remain committed to pressing this argument to the members of Congress and remain hopeful that we will advance the cause of the territory,” the governor concluded.

Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett had immediate reaction to Congress’ inaction: “The $2 million increase in funding to the entire territories completely discounts the request of Governor Mapp and does nothing to move the needle in providing much needed and long overdue funding for infrastructure development and jobs in the territories.”

The Congress bill, in its current form, negates the territory’s chances of borrowing $250 million. Instead, that amount would be lowered to the original $100 million, which was considered under the current federal highway funding level of $16 million, with $60 million being allocated for work here, and around $50 million for St. Thomas.

Senator Clifford Graham, chairman of the powerful Finance Committee, told The Consortium in a brief telephone interview on Friday that Rivera-O’Reilly’s measure remains intact because the language says “up to $250 million,” suggesting that a lower level of funding would also be acceptable. And though the $100 million would not be enough to complete all the roads needing reconstruction in the territory, Graham said it would see phase two of the Melvin Evans Highway project being covered, and also the plan to create a highway that runs behind the Earl B. Ottley Legislative Building.

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is expected to consider the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill during a mark up hearing scheduled for October 22, 2015.