U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg is in Reno today to commence a significant downtown bridge replacement project.Â
The Arlington Avenue Bridge project aims to replace a set of century-old bridges across the Truckee River at Wingfield Park in downtown Reno. The project consists of several goals, including enhancing community access to the Truckee River and Wingfield Park for walkers and bikers. It also aims to improve the Truckee River's hydraulic capacity, allowing more water to flow freely during flood events.
"We're laying the groundwork for a better future based on a twin philosophy. First, a philosophy that says the ideas aren't going to all come from Washington. As a matter of fact, out of the 60 thousand projects we're funding, zero of those were designed in DOT headquarters; the ideas aren't going to come from Washington, but more of the funding should." said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Senators Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen played a crucial role in crafting and passing the Biden-Harris Administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. They also advocated for local agencies in Reno to facilitate the bridge's construction.
"For the purposes of Nevada, for us to get those funds, we have to be ready to receive them. We have to be ready to go after them. So that's why we need our partners at the state and local level working with us at the Federal level to go after those funds" (D-NV) Senator Cortez Masto.
Transportation Secretary Buttigieg reflected on his tenure as mayor of South Bend, IN, and noted that Reno and South Bend are medium-sized river towns.
"I feel pride when people call me Mayor Pete. But I know that the job has only become more demanding and difficult since I proudly wore that title, so I have so much regard for the work that America's mayors do. I would note, though, that it sure would have been nice back when I was mayor if there was a trillion-dollar infrastructure package underway to help us do our job. So hopefully, you feel that's a wind at your back," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Senator Jacky Rosen commented on how major infrastructure projects like the Arlington Avenue Bridge will revitalize the downtown area adjacent to Wingfield Park.
"It's not just going to make transportation better, but it's gonna boost our local economy; it's going to just bring people together with Arttown and projects and fairs and festivals and walking and biking and transportation; it really is a hub," said (D-NV) Senator Jacky Rosen.
According to the Regional Transportation Commission, the estimated cost of replacing the Arlington Avenue Bridge is expected to exceed $25 million.
Secretary Buttigieg will join Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen at Wednesday's 2024 Lake Tahoe Summit.
