by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current
April 9, 2024
Now that a newly awarded federal grant will cover most of the cost to repair Newport’s Cliff Walk, borrowing $8 million in state bonds appears unnecessary.
Members of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation announced on Monday that the city was awarded a $11 million federal grant to shore up the iconic oceanfront path, a section of which has remained closed for over two years after it collapsed.
The funding the city of Newport applied for through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) grant program requires a $2.75 million match in city funds, which together cover the entire $13.75 million project cost, Tom Shevlin, a city spokesperson, confirmed on Tuesday.
Shevlin said he would defer to voters when asked if he thought the Cliff Walk should be removed from the $50 million green economy bond Gov. Dan McKee recommended in his fiscal 2025 budget proposal.
“Frankly, you never know what you’re going to find when you’re dealing with these types of coastal infrastructure projects,” Shevlin said.
The cost could rise, especially because the initial price tag was based on estimates over a year old. The tunnel due east of Clarendon Court on Newport’s Cliff Walk is now closed after the discovery of a nearby sinkhole off the walkway at the Miramar estate. (City of Newport photo)
Meanwhile, the famed ocean overlook continues to fight against climate change and environmental degradation. On April 4, the city announced it had closed a separate, quarter-mile section at the rugged southern end of the Cliff Walk “out of an abundance of caution” after the discovery of a sinkhole last week. The closure extends from the tunnel due east of Clarendon Court to the stairs leading to the Miramar sidewalk.
The extent of the damage and time needed for repairs remains unknown; a ground-penetrating radar inspection scheduled for Thursday, April 11, is expected to offer more information, Shevlin said.
Unforeseen problems reinforce the need for state bonds to supplement federal and city money for the Cliff Walk, according to Shevlin.
Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong also pointed to the recent damage as evidence more funding might be needed.
“It’s a 3.5 mile-long trail which is a lot for us to keep our eye on,” he said Tuesday afternoon. “We’re repairing not only the immediate section but we’re taking a close look at damage sustained in other areas where the funding might be needed.”
But some state lawmakers were reluctant to authorize state borrowing simply as a backup.
“It’s inappropriate to ask voters to pay the costs of borrowing millions of dollars ‘just in case’ that fully funded project goes over budget,” Rep. Megan Cotter, an Exeter Democrat, said in a text message on Tuesday.
Cotter is among a contingent of lawmakers and open space advocates pushing to add $16 million to the state’s green bond for forest conservation and farmland protection. In light of the new federal grant money available to pay for the Cliff Walk repairs, Cotter said the state bond would be better spent on land conservation.
Not that it’s an either-or scenario. Sen. Lou DiPalma, a Middletown Democrat and Senate Finance Committee chairman, pointed to the state’s 2023 debt affordability study, which said Rhode Island could take on up to $1.25 billion in additional debt in fiscal 2025. McKee’s proposed budget calls for $345 million in state borrowing across four separate ballot questions, one of which is the $50 million green economy bond,
“Not that we should hit the limit, but we have some room,” DiPalma said in an interview on Tuesday.
However, he also said it didn’t make sense to ask voters to authorize state borrowing for the Cliff Walk without an updated project estimate clearly showing the need for more funding.
“At the end of the day, just like we expect for housing, or anything else the state invests money in, we’re going to invest based on the need that is articulated at the time the investment is made,” he said. The sinkhole by the walkway at the Miramar Estate was reported by a member of the public through the city of Newport’s 311 ReportIt! app. (City of Newport photo)
Olivia DaRocha, a spokesperson for McKee’s office, said in an email on Tuesday the administration will be “engaging in discussions” with city leaders about the proposed bond funding included in McKee’s budget proposal.
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio offered a joint statement in an emailed response.
“We are grateful to our federal delegation for their strong and effective advocacy to secure funding for the restoration of Cliff Walk,” the two State House leaders said. “All aspects of the bond proposal, including the availability of these federal funds, will be thoroughly evaluated as it is considered by our respective Finance Committees as part of the budget process.”
Meanwhile, the Newport City Council has asked the General Assembly to authorize a local bond referendum in November seeking up to $98.5 million, including up to $5 million for the Cliff Walk. The House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing is scheduled to hold an initial hearing on the local bond bill at the State House at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
If approved first by lawmakers and then by city voters on the ballot, the city’s borrowing for the Cliff Walk would fulfill the federal grant matching requirement, Shevlin said.
A separate $5 million earmark in the federal fiscal 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act will pay for engineering and design work on the Cliff Walk, including a comprehensive review of the entire 3.5-mile walkway.
A 2018 study by students at Salve Regina University estimated that the Cliff Walk attracts 1.3 million visitors per year and adds $200 million in economic impact for Rhode Island.
“This historic public path is a national treasure and an environmental and economic asset for the city of Newport and the entire state,” U.S. Sen. Jack Reed said in a statement on Monday. “I’m pleased to help deliver this federal funding to rescue and restore the Cliff Walk. This federal funding will help make the walking trail safer and preserve its natural and historic significance for future generations.”
Updated to include a comment from Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong.
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