Safety upgrade coming to pier in Morro Bay thanks to $1.5 million in federal funds
Morro Bay’s critical, multi-use North T-Pier is about to get a safety upgrade thanks to new federal funding.
Sen. Alex Padilla announced in an email Tuesday that the Senate had secured more than $31 million in federal funding for 17 Central Coast projects in the bipartisan 2023 appropriations omnibus bill expected to be approved this week, including $1.5 million for the pier.
“The bill now heads to both chambers of Congress for final passage and then on to the president to be signed into law,” Padilla said then. The Senate passed the $1.7 billion spending package Thursday, and it’s headed for the House and then an expected presidential signature.
The appropriation described the pier as “a tie-up facility for a portion of Morro Bay’s commercial fishing vessel fleet, the operational hub for the US Coast Guard Station Morro Bay, the California Fish and Wildlife enforcement vessel ‘Bluefin,’ and the Morro Bay Harbor Patrol, and provides recreational and tourism opportunities for residents and visitors.”
Ian Mariani, communications director for Congressman Salud Carbajal confirmed Wednesday that “the Senate has voted to ‘proceed’ on the bill but final passage has not happened yet.” That first step has happened since then.
He said the expectation is that the House will vote soon and then send to to the president late T hursday noting that “Friday midnight (going into Saturday) is the deadline for government funding.” Without that vote, a Christmas government shutdown could result.
The pier project’s funding was deemed justified, according to the congressional documents, because the pier provides “significant benefits to the local and regional economy, which is likely to be amplified as the offshore wind energy project is developed and goes online. The project also supports the important national defense mission of the Coast Guard vessel stationed at Morro Bay.”
The cost for all the planned repairs to the pier is $3.8 million, Morro Bay Mayor Carla Wixom confirmed Tuesday night after the Senate vote results were announced. But the infusion of $1.5 million in federal funding will be a good jump-start for the work.
“The T-Pier project will ensure safety in and around Morro Bay harbor for our fishing industry, our citizens, and our visitors. The project will enhance the local and regional economic benefits provided by the T-Pier and harborm,” Wixom said.
According to federal documents, the funding for the pier project would replace “approximately 50 to 60 of the pier’s 419 structural and fender pilings that were rated with ‘moderate’ structural deterioration in the 2011 assessment; timber cross-bracing, pile caps, wales, stringers and decking as needed; under-deck fire suppression automatic sprinkler system; and replace and upgrade the electrical service systems on the pier to current codes and materials.”
Morro Bay leaders applaud money for pier
The federal drive to get the money for the pier and other Central Coast projects originated in the House in April with bipartisan efforts led by Carbajal, Mariani said, adding “we’re very excited that this funding is on track to become law by the end of the week.”
The congressman said that “with the Central Coast funds I’ve been working to secure since the spring, we will be able to make critical upgrades to roads and highways, bridges and piers to keep commerce and people moving smoothly throughout our region.
“The funding for the T-Pier will provide significant benefits for the local Morro Bay economy and the entire Central Coast, especially when combined with the offshore wind projects that are set to be developed over the next few years.”
Carbajal concluded that “this funding is also an important piece of our national defense, as it supports the Coast Guard missions based out of Morro Bay.”
Erica Crawford, CEO of the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce, said Wednesday, “Morro Bay’s commercial fishing fleet represents nearly 70 small businesses that rely on safe and sound harbor infrastructure. That, and the North T Pier’s critical importance to the Morro Bay Harbor Department and U.S. Coast Guard Station Morro Bay, is why the Chamber was proud to support the City of Morro Bay’s request for a Community Projects Funding grant.”
This story was originally published December 21, 2022 at 3:25 PM.
