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Para ver esta página en español, oprima aquí. Federal Government Frees $165 Million For Urban TrainU.S. Justice Department Assigns $7.5 Million To Police
Federal Government Frees $165 Million For Urban Train March 24, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) - Transportation and Public Works Secretary Jose Izquierdo announced Sunday that the federal government freed $165 million destined to the Urban Train that had been retained in 2000 following the discovery of construction deficiencies in that project. The federal government had refused to free those funds after it learned of the construction deficiencies in 44 columns, the delay in the installation of the rails, and the lack of an integrated construction itinerary which had delayed the project for three years, Izquierdo said. A federal audit had also revealed irregularities in the installation of the routes within the Rio Piedras tunnel. For his part, Roads and Highways Authority Director Fernando Fagundo said the Department of Transportation and Public Works has regained the trust of the federal government and applauded the efforts of Resident Commissioner Anibal Acevedo Vila in favor of obtaining additional federal funding for the Urban Train. During the time that the U.S. government had retained the funds, the project was funded with a bond emission of the authority. This resulted in losses of up to $1 million that were paid by the department, public officials explained. Although the federal government estimates the project will cost $2.03 billion, Fagundo said the department intends to only use $1.9 billion. The first phase of the Urban Train has been completed by 87% and it is estimated to be fully finished in September 2003.
U.S. Justice Department Assigns $7.5 Million To Police March 22, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department granted a $7.5 million allocation to the Puerto Rico Police to recruit new agents, Resident Commissioner Anibal Acevedo Vila informed Friday. The official said the allocation to the Puerto Rican agency is the highest conceded by the U.S. Justice Department to 116 police bodies in U.S. cities. In total, $50.6 million will be distributed for the contracting of 762 police in the 116 jurisdictions, according to the press release. The funds for Puerto Rico will be used to contract 200 police to reinforce preventive vigilance in the streets and communities throughout the island, said Superintendent Miguel Pereira, explaining the proposal’s content. Acevedo Vila indicated that the funds come from the Universal Recruitment Program of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, which this week also bestowed $2.4 million to increment security in the schools of the municipality of Sabana Grande and Guayanilla.
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