V.I. residents continue to see improvements throughout the territory as part of the government’s efforts to address both hurricane recovery issues and additional long standing infrastructure challenges like the Turpentine Run Project and improvements to Main Street on St Thomas.
“The Main Street project underway presently is something that needed attention over 20 years ago,” said Public Works Commissioner Nelson M. Petty, Jr. “It is critical that we take care of this challenge now.”
As the central business area that attracts millions of visitors annually, Main Street should have followed the progressive national trend by placing all utilities underground years ago, Petty said, especially since the V.I. is an area where weather conditions can frequently interfere with or totally disrupt public services, resulting in extended periods of business interruptions.
And that’s what the work currently being done includes. All infrastructure, such as water and sewerage lines, communications (phone and internet), storm drainage for waste management requirements and electric lines are being placed underground.
“The work happening demonstrates this government’s firm commitment to improving, enhancing and securing services to the Main Street area,” Petty said. “Over $14 million of federal money is being dedicated solely to this project. There is only about 2,000 feet of roadway involved from the Main Street Post Office to the former Enid Baa Public Library building where this work will take place. That is a huge commitment of funds, resources and manpower on the part of the V.I. Government.”
Petty said the work being completed by DPW will enhance the downtown business climate. However, completion of the infrastructure work is only half the battle toward restoring the Main Street section of St. Thomas to its former premiere tourism location status.
Petty said he and his top staff learned that while attended the recent meeting of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association.
“The FCCA is an organization that conducts extensive tourism based research. That research shows that the tourism industry has changed dramatically,” he said. “Visitors want new and different tourism experiences. The old business model of selling jewelry, perfume, cigarettes and liquor is no longer the standard sought by tourists. The FCCA reports indicate that merchants in the Caribbean must adapt their business models and evolve how they do business in order to attract and satisfy the desires of today’s travelers.”
Petty said V.I. is in a unique position regarding the timeline for Main Street’s completion.
“Yes, we have the federal funds to do the work, but we also have ONLY one paving company, one concrete company and a dire shortage of available manpower,” he said. “While the DPW is working diligently to complete the work, we have to consider the limited resources at our disposal.”
Petty said he and his staff are sensitive and empathetic to the needs and current plight of Main Street merchants and their employees.
“It is a difficult situation but it is essential that we take the time to achieve these improvements at this time. Upgrading this area’s infrastructure is not something that can continue to be put off for another day.”
A town hall meeting is being planned in the near future Petty said.
“We must get all stakeholders associated with the Main Street project in the same room. DPW needs to share information and gather input from those directly impacted,” he said. “This project must be a total commitment from stakeholders, citizens, V.I. tourism officials, and the DPW. We are in this together and the work underway is intended to ensure that the Main Street area will be open for business within days of any future disaster. Done correctly today, this work will secure the future for every one of us. That’s why we must do it properly now, despite the manpower and resource challenges we are facing.”
Another issue to be discussed during the town hall meeting is the kickoff of the new water transportation system, also known as the water taxi project. Managed by DPW, the project is slated to begin later this fall and will carry passengers to and from Havensight and the waterfront by boat. This will help to alleviate some traffic as a result of the work being done on the $42-million project to expand Veteran’s Drive.
Work to restore traffic lights throughout the V.I. continues, with services restored to several major intersections. Paving at the Turpentine Run Bridge is now completed in all directions leading to the bridge. Lighting, street signage and roadway painting also will be completed soon.
Petty also pointed to the recent recruitment of consulting companies whose expertise in technical areas will permit DPW to expand its engineering and managerial manpower associated with the 21 new projects, valued at $243 million. Having these consultants dedicated solely to the territory’s projects also will allow DPW to account for local money that can be reimbursed rapidly by federal agencies. DPW will be able to log onto various federal programs leveraging federal money and take advantage of the dollars available.
On the St. Croix side of the recovery work, Petty emphasized that more than 65 percent of all roads in the V.I. are on that island. Essential roads that were initially damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria were repaired immediately.
Since then, the Department of the Interior (DOI) has identified money to repair federal routes in historical areas such as Christiansted and Frederiksted. Roads in these areas will be repaved and transformed. Petty said the areas will be cleaned and paved, new sidewalks will be constructed, and essential infrastructure components will be placed underground.
DPW received $20 million from GARVEE bonds (Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle for the Melvin Evans Highway repaving. The nine miles of roadway were initially broken down into six phases. Petty expects about 75 percent of the paving will be completed by Christmas, with the final phase being completed during the first quarter of 2019.
Petty said 21 major projects are in various phases of solicitation, design, construction and completion/inspection. Most are in the bidding selection or the design phase.
When asked how Hurricane Florence, which flooded the U.S. East Coast, might impact the V.I.’s relationship with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal organizations, Petty said the V.I. is secure in the assistance it has received from the various federal agencies.
“Funds for our projects have been committed by the federal authorities,” he said. “When it comes to FEMA responses to disasters there are usually three waves of responders. The first wave consists of those who come to help with life and limb recovery and immediate assessment. The second wave involved workers who help provide support directly to residents or government agencies. The final or third wave of responders generally consists of those individuals following up on projects and plans. They are the ones who usually complete the final reviews. The V.I. is currently experiencing visits from the third wave of officials.”
