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Patriots footbridge taken off stimulus list

E-mail|Link|Comments () December 4, 2009 04:06 PM

By Noah Bierman, Globe Staff

The Patrick administration is taking a $9 million footbridge next to Gillette stadium off its list of federally funded stimulus projects, but remains committed to finding other public money for the project, an administration official said this afternoon.

The bridge, and two other previously approved projects, were removed from the stimulus list because officials worry they will not proceed quickly enough to meet "shovel-ready" deadlines set by the federal government.

"I commend the state for making what appears to be the right decision at least for this moment," said Marc Draisen, who raised questions about the project as a member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization for Greater Boston.

The Kraft Group, owner of the New England Patriots, owns parking lots on either side of the bridge, which would cross over Route 1. The company has invested more than $800 million in the area and has spent additional money at the state's request to plan for private office development across from the stadium and retail complex that they have already built.

State economic officials believe the footbridge would help persuade potential corporate tenants to build a campus in the area because the bridge would give employees access to retail adjacent to the stadium.

Draisen said he has had concerns the project was not shovel-ready and that it would mostly benefit game day foot traffic.

A call to the Kraft Group spokesman was not immediately returned.