Rail Trail, ambulance, police training: How Fall River will spend $20M in COVID funds
FALL RIVER — Mayor Paul Coogan released a comprehensive plan on Wednesday to spend $20 million of the $69 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding promised to the city, with quality-of-life initiatives geared toward residents and small businesses.
The city has already received half of the funding of approximately $34 million with the remaining balance expected from the federal government to expend on projects next year.
Projects in the works
The administration had already announced some of the projects this year’s appropriation will fund, like $8.35 million to replacement 17,720 feet of aging water lines – some dating back to the 1800’s — to the Department of Community Utilities.
The money will also be used to repair impacted streets and sidewalks.
ARPA funding of $500,000 has already been pledged to Operation Compass, the Fall River Police Department’s law enforcement initiative meant to increase bike patrols, walking beats and gang prevention. In addition, the federal dollars will purchase 50 new security cameras and 20 radar speed displays.
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The Fall River Holiday Parade last month benefited from an allotment of $75,000. The administration used $2.9 million to rehire staff in city government in departments affected by the COVID pandemic.
Funding for next phase of Rail Trail
But the latest list of new ARPA projects reviewed by Coogan’s ARPA Task Force includes $4 million to complete phase 4 of the Quequechan Rail Trail project.
According to a website by the trail's landscape architects, phase 4 will connect the existing rail trail to the recently renovated Father Travassos Park. The design for phase 4 is complete and the project has been awaiting funding to move ahead.
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More than $3.2 million will be used in a small business assistance grant program to local small businesses that have sustained losses due to the pandemic and will be managed by the non-profit Bristol County Economic Development Consultants.
There is more funding going to public safety with the ARPA money being used to purchase a MedCat armored ambulance at nearly $300,000.
The Fall River Police Department will receive almost an additional $800,000 for new computers and printers for police cruisers and additional crime prevention and equipment.
Quality of Life improvements
A relatively smaller ticket item compared to the other projects but is included in the Downtown Urban Renewal Plan is the rehabilitation of the Jerry Lawton Plaza on South Main Street across from the Fall River Justice Center.
Coogan said the project will include replacing the brick at the small park and other improvements.
“I look at the extension of the Alfred Lima rail trail and I think that is definitely a quality-of-life issue,” said Coogan. “Public safety is up there for the additional supports of the police department. I think there are a number of projects here that are going to make Fall River, long-term, a better place to live.”
Coogan said he’s still discussing how to expend the balance of $14 million of first-round money with the ARPA Task Force and other organizations.
The administration has set up an application process for proposals for additional projects that are covered under the ARPA guidelines on the city website, said Coogan.
In addition to the $64 million in ARPA funding, Coogan said the Bristol County Commission has also allocated $17 million for use of future Fall River projects.
Jo C. Goode may be reached at jgoode@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism and subscribe to The Herald News today!
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Fall River spends $20 million in COVID relief funds
