The effort by Maryland Gov. Parris N. Glendening to shake loose more federal funding for a new Woodrow Wilson Bridge by starting construction this fall got a mixed reception on Capitol Hill yesterday because of persistent concerns over who will pay for cost overruns.
"There are still major unanswered questions," said Rep. Thomas E. Petri (R-Wis.), who chairs the House ground transportation committee. He said he expects Maryland and Virginia to accept full responsibility for overruns before Congress considers any more funding. "I don't think there is any way we're going to be able to persuade the other states to go along with an open-ended spigot."
In announcing that construction of the 12-lane Potomac River crossing will proceed despite a shortfall of at least $600 million shortfall, Glendening said Wednesday that Maryland and Virginia should each pay 10 percent of any cost increases. The transportation secretaries of the two states, which are partners in the project with the federal government, promised Congress last year they would cover all cost overruns, but the price of the project has ballooned since then.
Stephen Bentfield, spokesman for the Senate public works committee, said Glendening's decision to keep the bridge project on schedule was "a step in the right direction" but failed to answer concerns about cost overruns.
The Clinton administration and the region's congressional delegation have been pressing to win support on Capitol Hill for an additional $600 million, which would raise the federal contribution to $1.5 billion toward a project now estimated to cost between $2.2 billion and $2.5 billion. The two states have each agreed to pay $200 million.
Congress does not need to give further approval before construction starts and, because the river is in Maryland, Glendening has the right to give the green light. Engineers hope to finish the first of the two new spans by 2004, to replace the deteriorating, 39-year-old crossing.
Maryland Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari said yesterday he has been encouraged by his discussions with officials in Congress and the federal Department of Transportation. "I think it's clear that the momentum to get the project done, including the financing, is there," he said. He added that "people of good will" could reach a deal over paying for cost overruns.
Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.) said the willingness of fellow Democrat Glendening to increase Maryland's contribution will give the project a boost in Congress. Glendening said Maryland agrees to cover some cost overruns and pay for some interchange work.
"The chances of coming up with the additional $600 million in federal money were substantially enhanced by Governor Glendening's action," Moran said. He added that the prospects are also better because Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore III (R) accepted the initiative, although with reservations.
But the U.S. Transportation Department, an ally in the battle to win more money, signaled that it has concerns about Glendening's plan to take advantage of a waiver, approved by Congress last month, that allows construction to proceed without full funding.
Mary Trupo, a spokeswoman for Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater, said the department has no problem with Maryland seeking bids for dredging but will not endorse actual work until all funding has been arranged. "We can't live with moving ahead without the $600 million," she said.
Trupo said federal transportation officials had not decided whether they would prevent Maryland from carrying out the dredging and foundation work if Congress refused to approve the extra money. "We are feeling cautiously optimistic that we will be able to reach a resolution on funding, and all this will be moot," she said.
The latest effort to close the funding gap came yesterday when Slater met with Sens. George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio), chairman of the transportation subcommittee, Charles S. Robb (D-Va.) and John W. Warner (R-Va.)
They sketched out a plan to spend $600 million from the general treasury on the condition that Maryland and Virginia would cover cost overruns from two sources: 20 percent from their state revenues and 80 percent from their annual allocations of federal highway money. The states would also be given control over contracting so they can better manage costs.
Voinovich said the next step is for the administration to consult with the two governors and House members.
Gilmore said last night he considered this plan to be "a promising step forward," especially because the states would now administer the contracts. But he said it would be unacceptable for overruns to be covered with the annual federal grants that the two states are already counting on for other projects. "That's not protecting the taxpayers of Virginia," he said.
Under the construction schedule announced this week, Maryland will seek bids Aug. 22 for the $15 million dredging contract once the details are approved by federal transportation officials and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, expected by next week. Dredging would start by mid-November. A $150 million contract for erecting foundations would go out to bid by early November, with work to start by late February.
