News release from
Congressman Eric Massa
29th District, New York
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Max Young (Schumer) (XXX) XXX-XXXX
July 1st 2009 Jared Smith (Massa) (XXX) XXX-XXXX
STANDING WITH CITY OF CORNING REPRESENTATIVES:
SCHUMER, MASSA ANNOUNCE: AFTER RESTORING $850K IN FUNDING FOR TRANSIT CENTER, CITY ON TRACK TO FINALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH PLAN; WILL GIVE UPDATE ON FUTURE OF PROJECT
Transit Center Project Was Stalled After City Lost $850,000 in Funding That Had Been Secured in 2005 Transportation Authorization
After Writing a Letter and Urging the DOT Secretary, Schumer, Massa Helped Restore Funding for Project
Schumer, Massa: With Funding Secured, Project Can Move Forward
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Eric Massa announced that they have successfully helped restore the expired $850,000 that was allocated for the Corning Transit center in the 2005 transportation reauthorization bill. The city had been unable to draw on the $850,000 due to an unexpectedly lengthy process of meeting the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) guidelines for the project, causing the funding to expire in September 2008. After writing and urging the Secretary of Transportation to restore the funds, Schumer and Massa today announced that the funding has successfully been restored.
“This transit center is critical to the City of Corning,” said Schumer. “In a time of volatile energy prices and an unstable economy, public transportation has become increasingly important. That is why I am so happy that the Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood heeded my call and decided to restore the funding to this worthy project so that the Transit City Center can finally move forward.”
"I'm proud that Senator Schumer and I were able to work together to help deliver these important funds to improve my hometown of Corning," said Congressman Massa. "Moving this critical project forward has been an important priority for both of us and the City of Corning. This project is all about creating jobs, improving our local economy and investing in the future of Corning."
The City of Corning secured $850,000 through the 2005 Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act a Legacy for Users (the Surface Transportation Authorization bill). The city was unable to draw on the $850,000 because, despite their best efforts to complete the lengthy FTA requirements for the project on time, they missed the September 2008 deadline and therefore lost access to the funds, putting the transit center project on hold.
According to city officials, the transit center will provide a big economic boost to the city. Tour buses from downstate frequently stop in at the Corning Glass Museum on their way up to Niagara Falls. The transportation center will provide a space downtown where tour buses can stop so tourists can enjoy the shopping and picturesque city. According to the city, the center will help attract tour bus companies on their return trip to the city, if they have a place to stop downtown. There is also a pedestrian safety element to the project - with the new center, passengers won't have to cross busy parking lots and roads to get from busses to cabs and other means of transportation and back.
In an effort to restore the funding for the City to proceed with plans to build the transit center, Senator Schumer and Rep. Massa sent a letter and urged the Transportation Secretary to extend the deadline and restore the funds.
Today, standing at the Visitor's Center, Schumer and Rep. Massa announced that the DOT restored the expired funding allocated for the Corning Transit center.
Now that the funding has been restored, the FTA and Corning can work together to move forward with the project and ensure that all deadlines are met.
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Jared Smith
Communications Director
The Office of Congressman Eric Massa
(XXX) XXX-XXXX
(XXX) XXX-XXXX (c)
xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxxx
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