WASHINGTON – In an effort to get to the bottom of who was responsible for overseeing the safety of Florida International University’s collapsed pedestrian bridge, Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, today asked the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to turn over all records related to the engineering, design, construction, safety and inspection of the project.

“In light of the fact that there were multiple agencies and companies involved, we’re going to need a clear understanding of who had what role in this horrible tragedy,” Nelson wrote in his letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. “There should have been adequate and appropriate oversight on the ground. If anyone dropped the ball and it contributed to this tragedy, then they should be held accountable.”

Among other things, Nelson requested documentation detailing DOT’s involvement in the construction of the pedestrian bridge, including the federal grant agreement itself, and any memoranda of understanding between DOT and state and local entities concerning the administration and oversight of the project.   Nelson also asked the agency to document what steps it and other entities took to review the project’s engineering, design, construction, safety and inspection and to explain what safety requirements were necessary for conducting testing and ongoing construction of a bridge over active traffic.  Nelson gave the department one week to hand over the documents.

The 174-foot, 950-ton pedestrian bridge was partially funded by an $11.4 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2013.

On Thursday, Nelson asked the chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to investigate the cause of the accident.  The NTSB has responded by sending personnel to the scene.

Below is the text of Nelson’s letter. Click here for the pdf.

March 16, 2018

The Honorable Elaine Chao

Secretary

U.S. Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

Washington, DC 20590

Dear Secretary Chao:

As you know, on March 15, 2018, a pedestrian bridge connecting Florida International University (FIU) to the City of Sweetwater collapsed onto a state roadway, killing and injuring several individuals.  The bridge was a 174-foot, 950-ton pedestrian bridge designed to allow FIU students to cross over a heavily trafficked thoroughfare.  The project was partially funded by an $11.4 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in 2013.

In light of the fact that there were multiple agencies and companies involved, we’re going to need a clear understanding of who had what role in this horrible tragedy.  There should have been adequate and appropriate oversight on the ground.  If anyone dropped the ball and it contributed to this tragedy then they should be held accountable.

Please provide a detailed explanation of DOT’s involvement in the construction of the pedestrian bridge, along with all relevant documentation pertaining to the TIGER grant, including the grant agreement itself, any memoranda of understanding between DOT and state and local entities concerning the administration and oversight of this project and any letters issued by DOT related to the project, such as letters of concurrence for the selection of contractors and any letters of approval. 

In addition, please provide any other explanatory information that you believe supplies the necessary context for understanding DOT’s role in the design and construction of the pedestrian bridge.  Particularly, given the use of federal funds to help finance the construction of the pedestrian bridge, please provide information and relevant documents detailing what steps DOT, along with state and local entities, took to review and oversee the project’s engineering, construction, safety and inspection.  Please also provide information on what safety requirements are necessary for conducting testing and ongoing construction of a bridge over active traffic.

I appreciate your prompt attention to this serious matter.  Please provide a response along with the requested documents by Friday, March 23, 2018. 

Sincerely,  

BILL NELSON

U.S. Senator

cc: The Honorable John Thune, Chairman