Mayor Lenny Curry is spending part of this week in Washington D.C., to lobby federal officials. That likely includes a proposal to tear down ramps to the Hart Bridge Expressway.
Curry’s office said his trip to D.C. is “to advocate for Jacksonville’s needs.”
According to the schedule, Curry left Monday and will stay through Wednesday to meet with lawmakers and Trump administration officials, specifically those who have oversight of federal transportation spending.
Curry is seeking a $25 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to offset the estimated $50 million road project.
City Council members approved $1.5 million for surveying, geotechnical investigations and preparation of a design criteria package on Oct. 24 after a Florida Department of Transportation study found that removing the ramps would improve freight traffic to Talleyrand Avenue.
Curry is scheduled to meet with U.S. Department of Transportation senior staff members and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao this afternoon.
He’s also scheduled to meet with Republican lawmakers Sen. Marco Rubio, Rep. John Rutherford, and Rep. Mario Diaz-Belart, who represents the 25th Congressional District in South Florida, including part of Miami.
Rubio is on the Senate Appropriations Committee, while Diaz-Belart is assigned to the House counterpart, and its Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.
Curry also will meet with Justin Clark, a deputy assistant to President Donald Trump and director of intergovernmental affairs. His office acts as a liaison between the White House and state and local officials.
Curry also is scheduled to speak with Deputy Assistant to the President and White House Director of Personnel Bill Stepien.
According to a mayor’s office spokeswoman, Curry is scheduled to return Wednesday.