(Monday, April 24, 2023 – Washington, D.C.) – Today, the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) announced it welcomed, alongside local government agencies, a delegation of general counsels from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in Puerto Rico.
During their visit, which concludes on April 26, the delegation will provide training to the general counsels of Puerto Rico government agencies on the implementation of funds under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as emergency management resources and capacity building initiatives. Additionally, the DOT general counsel delegation will have the opportunity to learn about the local Government’s organizational structure and grant management efforts from the Secretaries of the Puerto Rico Office of Management and Budget (OGP, per its Spanish acronym), the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP, per its Spanish acronym), and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority (PRPA). The delegation also met with the Governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro R. Pierluisi, and will conduct site visits for ongoing projects under the DTOP and PRPA umbrella.
"We are eager to host this general counsel delegation from the U.S. Department of Transportation," said the Governor of Puerto Rico Pedro R. Pierluisi. "Their visit represents an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the steps we have taken to maximize the federal funds and resources assigned to Puerto Rico, as well as to continue enhancing the development of our workforce on the Island.”
During their meeting with the Governor and other members of the gubernatorial cabinet, the DOT representatives highlighted the Island’s leading efforts in bolstering economic development through Public- Private partnerships, such as the ones established in the local airport and highways.
"We welcome this visit from the U.S. Department of Transportation to Puerto Rico," said PRFAA’s Executive Director, Luis D. Dávila. "As the bridge between the Island and the mainland, PRFAA has worked tirelessly to coordinate this visit and to foster collaboration between Puerto Rico and the federal government. Without a shadow of doubt, we are confident this exchange of knowledge and best practices will strengthen our partnership and benefit the 3.2 million American citizens of Puerto Rico.”
The Secretary of DTOP, Eileen Vélez, added “Building stronger relations with our counterparts in the federal government is fundamental to our efforts in maximizing the resources and opportunities for a more efficient, sustainable, and equitable transportation system. We all are committed to ensuring this collaboration brings upon innovative and efficient approaches to the implementation of funds under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. A more resilient transportation infrastructure and cost-saving initiatives for future maintenance and rebuilding is a common goal, and we are sure these capacity building efforts will foster the best strategies to achieve our goals”.
The DOT delegation is represented by general counsels from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Maritime Administration (MARAD), and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
