Shea-Porter, Blumenauer Discuss Transportation

U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, D-NH, and U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-OR, hosted a roundtable on the future of multimodal transportation and livable communities in Portsmouth on Aug. 20.

The event brought together state and federal Department of Transportation staff, regional planning officials, business owners, and bike-walk activists.

“I was proud to help secure TIGER grant funding that made the Memorial Bridge possible. In order to rebuild our infrastructure and create a transportation system for the 21st Century, we need a public-private partnership. Federal investment in infrastructure spurs economic development. I support creating a National Infrastructure Development Bank and I am working in Congress to help states, communities, and businesses with transportation and infrastructure challenges.” Shea-Porter said.

“Congresswoman Shea-Porter is a leader in Congress in working to ensure that America’s infrastructure remains world class. New Hampshire has always been a trailblazer in searching for new, innovative ways to face our country’s challenges, and I’m happy to see that tradition continuing. This roundtable shines a spotlight on the reasons we need multimodal transportation options if we want to build communities that are healthier, secure, livable, and economically viable. It’s a pleasure to spend time with Carol and other experts and leaders who understand that,” said Blumenauer.

In Congress, Shea-Porter was instrumental in securing TIGER Grant funding to rebuild the red-listed Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth. The Memorial Bridge was successfully awarded $20 million in federal funding. The Congresswoman has repeatedly supported increased funding for transportation alternatives, and has fought to bring federal transportation funds to New Hampshire. She is also a cosponsor of HR 2553, the National Infrastructure Development Bank Act, which would leverage private investments to create billions of dollars in infrastructure investment.

Blumenauer is a leading advocate for rebuilding and renewing America – from repairing the nation’s roads and bridges, to modernizing our water and electrical infrastructure. Blumenauer is a member of the Ways and Means Committee, where he works to strengthen long-term infrastructure finance. Since being elected to Congress in 1996, he has traveled to hundreds of communities across the country, supporting economic development and sustainable transportation options.

Participants at yesterday’s roundtable included Paul Yarossi, President HNTB Holdings; Roger Bowers, VP Government Relations HNTB; Larry Major, Government Relations Pike Industries; Rad Nichols, Executive Director COAST Busses; Rick Taintor, City of Portsmouth Planning; Juliet Walker, City of Portsmouth- Bicycle coordinator; Mark Nelson, City of Portsmouth Public Works; Jeff Latimer, Owner of Gus’ Bike Shop; Bob Spiegleman, Bike Walk Activist; Tim Blagden, Executive Director NH Bike-Walk Alliance; Rebecca Harris, Director Transport NH; David J. Preece, CEO Southern NH Planning Commission; Scott Bogle, Senior Transportation Planner, Rockingham Planning Commission (also the head of Seacoast greenway); Eric Weiss, Trail Coordinator for the East Coast Greenway Alliance; Patrick McKenna, Deputy Commissioner NH DOT; Patrick Bauer, FHWA NH Division Administrator.

Submitted by the office of U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter.