Schumer calls on Congress to solve potential highway trust fund shortfall

[hrmjustin]

By Christopher Michel, Olean Times Herald

The federal fund that pays for many road repairs across the country is in need of a fix.

Last week, federal transportation authorities reported that the Federal Highway Trust — a fund that provides New York with $1.6 billion annually for road repairs and mass transportation projects — is jeopardy of soon dipping below the $4 billion mark. The trust is projected to go below $1 billion by October.

“Our state’s infrastructure is intimately connected to the health of our economy and is also intimately connected to job growth,” said U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York. “Just as our economy is starting to show signs of life, picking up steam and adding jobs, for us to turn the federal back on our highways, bridges, roads and dams would make no sense ... the last thing we need is another self-inflicted economic wound from Washington D.C.”

The senator fears that may soon be the case.

http://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/article_60c0626c-0868-11e4-9da8-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=jqm

[hrmjustin]

1. editorial: An Interstate 81 'compromise' worth arguing against

http://www.syracuse.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/07/an_interstate_81_compromise_worth_arguing_against_editorial.html

[hrmjustin]

2. editorial: Driving us nuts: Congress hasn t yet replenished the Highway Trust Fund

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20140711/OPINION/140719824

[hrmjustin]

3. N.Y. lawmakers grudgingly support short-term highway bill

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2014/07/10/highway-trust-fund/12503031/

[hrmjustin]

4. Lawmakers Search for Compromise on Future of I-81 in Syracuse

http://centralny.twcnews.com/content/news/752210/lawmakers-search-for-compromise-on-future-of-i-81-in-syracuse/

[hrmjustin]

5. Sen. Charles Schumer: Dozens Of NY Highway Projects At Risk

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/07/13/sen-charles-schumer-dozens-of-ny-highway-projects-at-risk/

[hrmjustin]

6. Reed says he backs stop-gap Highway Bill

http://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/article_8fd278ec-0c46-11e4-a44a-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=jqm

[hrmjustin]

7. Owens votes to replenish Highway Trust Fund

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20140718/NEWS03/140718754

[hrmjustin]

8. Syracuse power brokers pushing I-81 tunnel, boulevard instead of elevated highway

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/07/i-81_viaduct_syracuse_nydot.html#incart_river