Modernization of seaport and expansion of Guam roadways with ARRA funds are focus of discussion with DOT
November 6, 2009
Washington, D.C. – Governor Felix P. Camacho today met with the secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Ray LaHood, to discuss the use of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 for the island’s seaport and airport expansions and local roadway infrastructure improvements.
“Without the expansion of our transportation systems, we cannot expect to grow commerce in the Western Pacific,” said Gov. Camacho. “Secretary LaHood was well-informed of our infrastructure needs, especially related to ensuring a successful Guam Military Buildup Program.”
The one-hour meeting touched on the use of federal dollars to modernize the Port Authority of Guam (PAG). Gov. Camacho asked for favorable consideration for approximately $50 million in discretionary funding from Secretary LaHood to begin the multi-phase expansion at Guam’s seaport and asked him to advocate for Guam with the secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, for approval of a $50 million direct loan to the PAG.
The U.S. Maritime Administration, a DOT agency, has spent the past year assisting the PAG in using federal funds for planning and engineering projects at Apra Harbor to gain the designation as a strategic port by the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command. Gov. Camacho remarked that Secretary LaHood was well-versed on the issues surrounding the DOT funding for the PAG projects and the impacts the decision will have on other federal programs being leveraged to assist in this effort.
“Our seaport is our lifeline to the rest of the world, and Secretary LaHood recognized the impacts the DOT funding will have on serving Guam and Micronesia,” said Gov. Camacho. “I stressed that his approval on DOT funding is critical to the Port’s modernization and will ensure growth and expansion in an important industry.”
Gov. Camacho said that Secretary LaHood praised the efforts of the Guam Department of Public Works (DPW) for its timely submission for applications related to DOT’s portion of ARRA projects. DPW was the first in the United States to submit projects for consideration under the ARRA law. ARRA-related road construction, mass transit expansion, and airport upgrades are to begin in the first quarter of 2010.
“DPW has changed the perception of Guam by this accomplishment and has turned heads in the right direction with all the other executive branch agencies,” said Gov. Camacho. “We will further define what DPW and other government of Guam agencies will bring to national decision makers and ensure as an administration that we protect the livelihoods of all our residents.”
