{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=AD2D9329-B90C-475E-9CBB-D0DEFC49A1F1", "Warner Joins National Capital Region Members to Support Second Memorial Bridge Grant Application", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Mark Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined congressional representatives from Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia to urge Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx to support the National Park Service\u2019s (NPS) FASTLANE grant application for $60 million to complete Arlington Memorial Bridge repairs, a project estimated to require upwards of $250 million. The letter also included Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Representatives Don Beyer, Gerry Connolly, Barbara Comstock, and Sen. Tim Kaine.\r\nEarlier this year, the Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded NPS $90 million to begin necessary repairs. This grant would bring the total FASTLANE federal contribution to $150 million. The FASTLANE program requires NPS to provide 40 percent in matching funds.\r\nThe lawmakers released the following joint statement today:\r\n\u201cWe encourage Secretary Foxx and the Department of Transportation to support the National Park Service\u2019s FASTLANE application. Arlington Memorial Bridge is a critical multimodal link in the national capital region\u2019s transportation network.\u00a0 This additional federal money is necessary to avoid a costly, prolonged repair project that will add to the region\u2019s congestion problems for years. It is vital that this project is completed promptly, with federal support.\u201d\r\nWithout an additional FASTLANE grant, NPS will need to complete the project in phases stretching multiple years, raising the potential for an extended construction timeline, additional traffic delays, and increased construction costs. A multi-phased rehabilitation project also increases the likelihood of additional emergency repairs.\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe full text of the delegation\u2019s letter follows, and the original copy can be viewed online here.\r\nThe Honorable Anthony Foxx\r\nU.S. Department of Transportation\r\n1200 New Jersey Ave, SE\r\nWashington, D.C. 20590\r\n\u00a0\r\nDear Secretary Foxx:\r\nWe are pleased to provide this letter in support of the National Park Service\u2019s (NPS) Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grant application for the Arlington Memorial Bridge Reconstruction Project. As you know, the bridge spans the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., connecting Northern Virginia with the District of Columbia.\u00a0 It is not only a national memorial, but a critical multimodal link in the national capital region\u2019s transportation network.\r\nWe appreciate the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s commitment to this project and previous award of a $90 million grant to enable major construction activities to begin.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the grant and associated matching funds will not cover the full $250 million needed for repairs. Without the remaining balance of $60 million, the construction schedule could be prolonged, raising the potential of increased travel delays and continual ad hoc repairs until the bridge would ultimately need to be completely closed by 2030, or sooner.\r\nArlington Memorial Bridge is structurally deficient and its poor condition has already begun to significantly constrain regional movement.\u00a0 In May of 2015, NPS suddenly closed portions of two lanes for emergency repairs.\u00a0 Without a major overhaul the bridge will be closed to all vehicle traffic by 2021.\u00a0 The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments projects a full bridge closure would cost the region $75.4 million per year in traffic delays alone.\u00a0 Traffic diversions would also put even more strain on already crowded nearby bridges.\r\nThe bridge carries 68,000 vehicles per day, which is one of the highest volumes for any one bridge administered by NPS.\u00a0 The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) engineering evaluations have demonstrated the Arlington Memorial Bridge is the worst condition of all high-volume urban federally-owned bridges in the country.\u00a0 Given the bridge\u2019s state of disrepair, historical significance, traffic volume, and overall size, it is the estimated that it is the most costly identified federally-owned bridge rehabilitation project across the country.\r\nArlington Memorial Bridge is also entirely owned by the federal government, under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service.\u00a0 State governments have no legal obligation to provide financial support for maintenance of the bridge.\u00a0 Therefore, without significant federal investment, a project of this magnitude poses a nearly impossible challenge to NPS\u2019s transportation budget.\u00a0 A weight limit, which disrupts freight flows in the region, has already been instituted for Arlington Memorial Bridge.\u00a0 Closing the bridge entirely would have a cascading effect on all modes of transportation within the region.\u00a0 Finally, it is important to note that the bridge serves as a designated emergency route which would support the evacuation of over one million people in the event of a threat to the seat of government.\u00a0\r\nThe Arlington Memorial Bridge Reconstruction Project would completely rehabilitate Arlington Memorial Bridge, protecting its memorial character while improving safety and preventing disruption to freight flows on other Potomac River crossings.\u00a0 The project supports the Department of Transportation\u2019s emphasis on economic growth; transportation safety; and federal, state and local partnerships; and is an outstanding example of regional cooperation.\u00a0 It also reflects the calls for addressing infrastructure bottlenecks and improving safety in your department\u2019s National Freight Strategic Plan.\r\nFor these reasons, we enthusiastically support the NPS\u2019s FASTLANE grant application for the remaining funding required to repair and preserve Arlington Memorial Bridge.\u00a0\r\nIf you have any questions please feel free to contact our offices.\r\n\u00a0\r\nSincerely,\r\n\u00a0\r\nDonald S. Beyer Jr.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Eleanor Holmes Norton\r\n8th District, Virginia\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At-large, District of Columbia\r\n\u00a0\r\nSenator Mark Warner\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Senator Tim Kaine\r\nVirginia\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Virginia\r\n\u00a0\r\nBarbara Comstock\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gerald E. Connolly\u00a0\r\n10th District, Virginia\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 11th District, Virginia\r\n\u00a0\r\nJohn K. Delaney\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\n6th District, Maryland\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=AD2D9329-B90C-475E-9CBB-D0DEFC49A1F1"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5528099611401558, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}