Sen. White urges reprioritizing bridge projects, seeks funding for Fox Van bridge and Redding garage

Sen. White asked the Senate Transportation committee on April 15 to make an exception to normal practice and fund two specific local projects — the Fox Van (Royalton) bridge and a timber-frame public works garage in Redding — arguing the state’s project-prioritization process is allowing critical local needs to fall through the cracks.

"I think our project prioritization process is broken," Sen. White said, telling committee members she had never before asked for specific projects but that unusual circumstances and community harm justified doing so now. She cited a citizen report that said the bridge’s closure lengthened emergency medical service travel times for about 80 residents and forced the closure of a farm stand and a hairdresser.

The senator asked the committee to fully fund the Fox Van bridge through language in her amendment that would add the "Royalton Bridge Trust Project" (referred…