FROED One Government Center Fall River, MA 02722-7700 Tel 508-324-2620 Fax 508-677-2840 info@froed.org		FUNDING FOR ROUTE 79 OVERHAUL IN 'DANGER' OF DISAPPEARING: FIOLA The Herald News, Friday, October 16, 2009 - Page B1 FALL RIVER - The Route 79 ramp project has been on many people’s minds — from the newly issued draft master plan to government advocacy — but state funding possibilities remain an iffy proposition, an official told the Redevelopment Authority this week. At stake is roughly $4 million. Kenneth Fiola Jr., executive vice president of the Fall River Office of Economic Development, told the Redevelopment Authority that Mayor Robert Correia continues to hope for an imminent release of about $750,000 for the waterfront-related project. The longtime aim has been to remove the Route 79 ramps to the east to create an 8- to 10-acre waterfront boulevard toward the city pier, Fiola said. About $4 million of federal money for the city remains in state control from about $8.5 million first approved. The state turned back the other unused funds to the federal government, and Fiola said there’s “a danger” that could happen again. The next target date is the first quarter of 2010, he said this week. Fiola said he, Correia and state Sen. Joan A. Menard have been in contact with outgoing Secretary of Transportation James A. Aloisi Jr. about funding. The state official accompanied Correia and state legislators on a tour of related projects this summer. The state released $250,000 for an initial feasibility study on whether the ramps could be removed. The additional $750,000 would answer how that project could be done, officials said. “He understands why the funds should be released,” Fiola said of Aloisi, a former Big Dig overseer whose appointment to the transportation department stirred widespread controversy. Fiola noted, however, the imminent staff changes and the pending reorganization of the state's transportation agencies could require re-educating state officials on ways the Route 79 project could boost economic development. “Our request for $750,000 could be languishing out there and be lower on the priority list,” Fiola said. “It would be best if it could be released at this point.” Correia, in an interview last month, said he spoke with Gov. Deval Patrick, who said, “We might be able to do this.” When consultants for the proposed master plan discussed it Wednesday night, developing Route 79/Davol Street as an expanded waterfront boulevard was listed among 20 priorities by the city’s consulting firm. City Council candidate Eric Poulin, who was among two dozen people attending the meeting, said state congressional leaders had secured what he recalled was about $5 million for the project. He said the funds could address one person’s suggestion that an artist’s rendering of expanding the waterfront would boost enthusiasm for it. Daphne Politis, who presented the master plan overview and moderated the meeting, said they were not aware of the status of those grant funds. She suggested their availability be explored. Fiola, a member of the Master Plan Steering Committee, did not attend the presentation. Back