BRATTLEBORO — What a pleasure to walk, drive, and ride a bike across the beautiful new Elliot Street bridge!
As a member of the House Transportation Committee for the past eight years, I have had oversight over funding for transportation projects all over the state. It's not often I get to see one completed practically in my own backyard.
Mike Renaud and Renaud Brothers did a professional and careful job, completing the project right on time for the start of school, as promised.
Our local public works department, under the able leadership of Steve Barrett and Hannah O'Connell, coordinated all the accessory work of sidewalks and water and sewer lines.
The Vermont Agency of Transportation and Secretary Chris Cole, recognizing the importance of this bridge to the transportation infrastructure of our town, provided 97.5 percent of the funding. Jennifer Fitch, the VTrans project manager, took great personal interest in the bridge.
In addition, VTrans provided me with regular updates on the work. Thanks to Jacquie Dagesse for that.
More than half of Vermont's funding for transportation comes from the federal government. Most of the remainder comes from the gas tax and motor-vehicle fees. If you have wondered where the money goes, you can see a concrete example right near the center of town.
Thanks to all involved for a job well done.