In the second in a series of promised visits by United States cabinet secretaries to Puerto Rico, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on Thursday announced steps to speed Federal aid to highway projects on the island.
Fox's visit followed U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew's trip to San Juan in January to talk with Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro García Padilla about how to resolve the commonwealth's financial crisis.
"Just this morning the White House announced that additional senior officials will be travelling here in the coming months to promote economic recovery," Foxx said Thursday at the governor's offices.
Secretary of Interior Sally Jewel will visit in April to seek ways to promote tourism to Puerto Rico, he said. In May Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will come to help out the island's farms.
"I know for a fact that the president has called for action from members of his cabinet on Puerto Rico's issues," García Padilla said Thursday. "And many members of the cabinet have already called us and will be visiting in the weeks to come."
A key part of Puerto Rico's plan to promote economic growth is through increased investment in infrastructure, the governor said.
"We are now moving ahead with [the Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority's] financial recovery by agreeing Puerto Rico will receive federal funds for construction projects as costs are incurred instead of receiving reimbursement for moneys advanced by Puerto Rico," García Padilla said. "This comes as much needed assistance in the middle of a crisis."
In addition, the Department of Transportation will allow the commonwealth to use toll credits instead of cash to match grants for federal money for infrastructure projects, enabling Puerto Rico to begin and complete construction projects faster.
On Thursday García Padilla and Foxx signed a memorandum of understanding to take these and other steps so that Puerto Rico could more quickly use $400 million that has already been allocated to the territory for transportation projects.
Foxx said that his department was looking for additional opportunities to repair and upgrade Puerto Rico's transportation infrastructure.
Puerto Rico has "one of the finest governors in the United States," Foxx said at the press conference Thursday.
