Barnstable commissioners endorse federal funding push for Bourne Bridge replacement

At its Sept. 25 meeting the Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners voted to approve and send a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressing the county's strong support for federal funding of phase 2 of the Cape Cod Canal bridge program, which would include replacement of the Bourne Bridge.

A commissioner reading the draft letter told the board the packet notes approximately $1.7 billion in federal funding made available to support the Sagamore Bridge (phase 1) and a $700 million state commitment, and asked the board to convey similar support for the phase 2 applications submitted by MassDOT and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The motion to authorize the letter passed after minor technical edits.

The letter stresses the bridges' role as critical access points for more than 250,000 Cape and Islands residents and millions of annual visitors and notes the applications to the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant program and the Bridge Investment Program. "The Bourne Bridge currently owned and maintained by the Army Corps is a vital asset for the Cape Cod economy and surrounding communities," the letter reads as read into the record.

Commissioners discussed timing and the need to press the case now given an upcoming election and uncertainties in Congress; one commissioner recommended enlisting town boards and selectmen across the Cape to submit similar letters to amplify support.

Next steps: staff will finalize the letter and transmit a PDF copy to U.S. DOT; commissioners said they will encourage local officials to send complementary letters of support.