Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL) and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor (no relation) announced that the Palmetto Beach neighborhood would be receiving a sum of over $24 million for local infrastructure from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equality (RAISE) grant.
This grant comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the $454 billion infrastructure law signed by President Joe Biden (D) in May.
Rep. Castor said that grants such as these for the Palmetto Beach area should “create safer communities” in the United States.
“Infrastructure investments are making our streets safer, rebuilding ports, and investing in neighborhoods to make them more resilient to flooding,” said Rep. Castor. “The Investing in America agenda lowers costs and creates safer communities across the country. Palmetto Beach neighbors who enjoy a rich history also deserve a neighborhood with safer streets, sidewalks that are ADA-compliant, and protection from flooding.”
The grant includes improvements focused on Bermuda Boulevard such as a reconstruction of the adjacent seawall, the addition of seawall trails, providing clear and legitimate on-street parking, landscaping (trees), and pedestrian crossing, among other additions.
Additionally, Mayor Jane Castor described Rep. Castor as “extraordinary” for her work on this issue.
"Designated in 2012 by the National Park Service as a National Register Historic District, the Palmetto Beach area is home to some of our most vulnerable residents, and for decades, it has struggled with serious transportation deficits and coastal climate vulnerabilities that must be addressed as we work to Transform Tampa's Tomorrow across our city," said Mayor Jane Castor. "Thanks to the extraordinary U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, who secured this highly competitive federal grant, one of the largest we have received in our city's history, we will be able to uplift this richly diverse community by improving accessibility, providing flood relief, and conserving miles and miles of waterfront space for generations of Tampanians to enjoy."
Finally, U.S. Transportation Secretary and former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg (D) said that this grant will address Florida’s underinvested infrastructure.
“After decades of underinvestment, the condition of Florida’s infrastructure is now finally getting better instead of worse – and today we proudly announce our support for 148 more projects in communities across the country, including Florida’s 14 District, said Secretary Buttigieg. “Through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re funding projects across the country to make roads safer, make it easier for people to move around their community, make transportation infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather, and improve supply chains to keep costs down for consumers.”
Kathy Castor represents Florida’s 14th District. She was first elected in 2006.
