U.S Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg has disclosed that the Biden administration is focused on four areas related to transportation as the investigation into the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse continues.
Speaking at a White House news conference, Buttigieg divulged that officials are focused on reopening the port, dealing with supply chain issues, rebuilding the bridge and addressing surface transportation.
“We are already taking steps toward each goal,” he said.
Buttigieg stated that he will meet with shipping and supply chain officials on Thursday, March 28, 2024.
As part of his remarks, Buttigieg shared his condolences with the families who have lost loved ones in the Bridge accident.
“Tragically, six people did lose their lives and a seventh was badly injured,” Buttigieg said.
“These were workers who went out to work on a night shift, repairing the road service while most of us slept,” he added.
White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre said, “Our hearts go out to the families of the six individuals still missing after yesterday’s bridge collapse in Maryland … operations have shifted from a search and rescue operation to recovery efforts.”
Jean-Pierre added that President Joe Biden has pledged to “move heaven and earth to aid in the emergency response and help rebuild the bridge as soon as humanely possible.”
Buttigieg declined to comment on the direct investigation being led by the US coast guard and National Transportation Safety Board.
“I will respect their independence and not comment on that work,” Buttigeg said of the investigation, adding that he has engaged with those officials at the accident site.
Buttigieg did not speculate about what any investigation might find but added that the bridge was not meant to withstand a direct hit from a vast cargo ship.
Also, Buttigieg asserted that the death toll from the Key Bridge accident could have been much higher, if not for several factors.
“If not for several factors, including those responders’ efforts, the mayday call, the maintenance closure that was already underway, and the time of day of this impact, the loss of life might have been in the dozens.”
Pete Buttigieg
Buttigeg emphasized that the work ahead involves re-opening the bridge as well as managing local and national economic impacts.
Buttigieg said that it is too soon to say how long it will take to reopen the Port of Baltimore or replace the destroyed bridge.
Buttigieg noted that the bridge took five years to construct, adding, “That does not necessarily mean it will take five years to replace.”
“We need to get a sense of the conditions… we just don’t know yet, especially in terms of their foundational infrastructure,” he said of the extent of damage to the bridge.
“The vast majority of the port is inside of that bridge, which means most of it cannot operate,” Buttigieg said.
Buttigieg urged bipartisan support to fund the bridge’s reconstruction.
“Infrastructure is, or at least ought to be, a bipartisan priority,” he said.
This was in response to a question about if Republicans could hold up attempts to fund bridge reconstruction if Biden taps Congress for assistance.
“Today this is happening in Baltimore, tomorrow it could be their districts, We really need to stand together, red blue and purple, to get these things done.”
Pete Buttigieg
Coast Guard Says Ship Poses No Threat
Moreover, Coast Guard Vice Admiral, Peter Gautier announced that hazardous materials aboard the damaged ship pose no threat to public safety.
Gautier said at the White House news briefing that the ship is holding over 1.5 million gallons of fuel, and that more than 50 of the cargo containers on board contain hazardous material.
Nonetheless, he asserted that the ship is stable and that authorities have determined there is no safety risk.
“There is no threat to the public,” he said.
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