Waterfront parking garage, rail trail expansion among Fall River projects in bond bills

“There are no guarantees that we will get the money,” Rep. Carole Fiola said. “But you are guaranteed to not get the money if you don’t put it in the bill.”

FALL RIVER – The governor has the city’s wish list. Now we wait to see which wishes become reality.

Local legislators gave the governor a list of projects to consider when they gave him permission to borrow money.

Two projects requested would be for $3 million to build parking garages. The request is for $1 million to build a garage somewhere on the city’s waterfront and $2 million to build a garage downtown.

There is also a request to make improvements to the industrial park exit from Route 24 and to continue work on the Quequechan River Rail Trail.

“There are different bonds to be issued by the governor,” said State Rep. Carole Fiola. “As legislators, we have the opportunity to get placement on the bills for possible projects.”

Fiola sponsored bills to add the Fall River projects to the list presented to the governor.

The governor has the authority to issue bonds to finance projects around the state. When the legislature gave that authority, it included a list of projects to be considered.

In Fall River, the requests came out of meetings with constituents, Fiola said.

“This puts these in as a place holder,” she said. “We can begin the conversation about what we need in the city.”

City leaders now must lobby for the governor to include funding for parking garages in the city and for cash to fix the drainage that troubles Exit 8 from Route 24.

The request also includes money to start planning for an extension of the Quequechan River Rail Trail to connect Britland Park, behind the police station, to Father Travassos Park on Alden Street in The Flint.

“There are no guarantees that we will get the money,” Fiola said. “But you are guaranteed to not get the money if you don’t put it in the bill.”

Email Kevin P. O’Connor at koconnor@heraldnews.com.