WASHINGTON - New York will receive some $16.5 billion in highway and transit dollars over the next six years - including $7.52 million for projects in Cayuga County - under a new congressional compromise that should end a two-year standoff on major safety construction and safety programs.
More than $10 billion for roads and nearly $6.5 billion for transit in New York are contained in a deal struck by negotiators for the House and Senate, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. said Thursday.
The figures represent an increase of roughly 19 percent over the previous six-year package.
A House vote on the package is expected later in the day.
"I am proud that our efforts have resulted in New York's share of funds growing to meet the ever-increasing transportation demands on our state," said Clinton, one of the Senate negotiators.
The six-year highway bill is the latest incarnation of a program that has historically favored states like New York with major commuter train systems.
"New York did very well," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., a member of the Senate committee which controls the transit funding and tax portions of the bill. He touted the boost in jobs expected from the bill.
"Our roads and transportation projects are one of the most important assets we have for bringing new jobs to New York and making life easier for all New Yorkers," he said.
Over the years, lawmakers from southern and western states have whittled away at that disparity, and the current version continues that trend.
The deal finalized Wednesday would, near the end of the six-year program, guarantee each state receives at least 92 cents in federal grants for every dollar contributed to the Highway Trust Fund through gasoline taxes.
Current law guarantees states at least a 90.5 percent return on contributions.
The higher guaranteed minimum for every state means New York will get a smaller share of the total than it has received in the past.
Elected officials in New York and the Northeast have been scrambling to hold onto as much of their historic share as possible in the face of growing opposition from other sections of the country.
The highly anticipated bill has foundered for two years on disagreements between the House and Senate and a threat of presidential veto if the bill's total cost exceeded limits imposed by the White House.
The final bill also would include specific projects requested by lawmakers for their districts or states. Such projects are often criticized by watchdog groups as political "pork."
These range from multimillion-dollar highways and bridges to bike paths, pedestrian trails and museum parking lots.
New York lawmakers were to hold a press conference later Thursday to discuss specific projects in the state that will be funded by the bill.
Cayuga County transportation projects
- $800,000 to construct a new highway connecting Routes 5 and 34 in the City of Auburn
- $1 million for an Erie Canal Heritage project in Port Byron
- $2.8 million for improvements to York Street in the City of Auburn
- $1.2 million to improve access to the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge from the Thruway
- $120,000 to study the potential expansion of a portion of Route 5 in the city and upgrading Finger Lakes Railroad to accommodate commuter train traffic between Auburn and Syracuse along Grant Avenue
- $1.6 million for crossing improvements on a stretch of railway line from Utica through Auburn to Geneva
The figures represent an increase of roughly 19 percent over the previous six-year package.
A House vote on the package is expected later in the day.
"I am proud that our efforts have resulted in New York's share of funds growing to meet the ever-increasing transportation demands on our state," said Clinton, one of the Senate negotiators.
The six-year highway bill is the latest incarnation of a program that has historically favored states like New York with major commuter train systems.
"New York did very well," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., a member of the Senate committee which controls the transit funding and tax portions of the bill. He touted the boost in jobs expected from the bill.
"Our roads and transportation projects are one of the most important assets we have for bringing new jobs to New York and making life easier for all New Yorkers," he said.
Over the years, lawmakers from southern and western states have whittled away at that disparity, and the current version continues that trend.
The deal finalized Wednesday would, near the end of the six-year program, guarantee each state receives at least 92 cents in federal grants for every dollar contributed to the Highway Trust Fund through gasoline taxes.
Current law guarantees states at least a 90.5 percent return on contributions.
The higher guaranteed minimum for every state means New York will get a smaller share of the total than it has received in the past.
Elected officials in New York and the Northeast have been scrambling to hold onto as much of their historic share as possible in the face of growing opposition from other sections of the country.
The highly anticipated bill has foundered for two years on disagreements between the House and Senate and a threat of presidential veto if the bill's total cost exceeded limits imposed by the White House.
The final bill also would include specific projects requested by lawmakers for their districts or states. Such projects are often criticized by watchdog groups as political "pork."
These range from multimillion-dollar highways and bridges to bike paths, pedestrian trails and museum parking lots.
New York lawmakers were to hold a press conference later Thursday to discuss specific projects in the state that will be funded by the bill.
Cayuga County transportation projects
- $800,000 to construct a new highway connecting Routes 5 and 34 in the City of Auburn
- $1 million for an Erie Canal Heritage project in Port Byron
- $2.8 million for improvements to York Street in the City of Auburn
- $1.2 million to improve access to the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge from the Thruway
- $120,000 to study the potential expansion of a portion of Route 5 in the city and upgrading Finger Lakes Railroad to accommodate commuter train traffic between Auburn and Syracuse along Grant Avenue
- $1.6 million for crossing improvements on a stretch of railway line from Utica through Auburn to Geneva
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