Miner, Rebuild NY Now Call For Infrastructure Funding Parity from New York State Leaders
Lead by Mayor Miner, Broad Coalition Calls for Infrastructure Investment for NYSDOT Equal to State’s Recent Investment in the MTA SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Mayor Stephanie A. Miner and Rebuild NY Now, a broad-based coalition seeking to raise public awareness about the issues impacting New York State’s infrastructure, called on the state legislature and Governor to include funding for the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) equal to the recent funding agreement for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in the 2016-17 Executive Budget. Funding parity would help fund road and bridge projects throughout New York State, including in the City of Syracuse. “I applaud the MTA funding deal that was reached a few weeks ago, and as a big city Mayor, I stand with Mayor De Blasio as he fights for funding for mass transit. Yet as an upstate Mayor in a city with aging infrastructure, I have seen firsthand the need for adequate funding for our roads and bridges,” stated Syracuse Mayor Stephanie A. Miner. “From water main breaks to decaying bridges and roads, Central New Yorkers are paying for inefficient and dangerous commutes. I stand here today with Rebuild NY Now and this broad coalition to call on state leaders to make a real investment in our infrastructure.” Mike Elmendorf, President and CEO of Rebuild NY Now added, “We thank Mayor Miner for her dedication to this important cause. A coalition unprecedented in its breadth and diversity has come together in Syracuse around this issue today because our crumbling roads and bridges are in serious need of attention and, more importantly, are in serious need of a multibillion dollar capital commitment from the State. Renewing a commitment to the historic parity agreement between roads and bridges and transit will not only create jobs and save New Yorkers money – but it will ensure the safety and well-being of Central New York families who every day, ride on roads and bridges that are in a state of disrepair.” According to Sen. David J. Valesky (D-Oneida) “I am pleased to lend my voice to the Rebuild NY Now coalition in support of much needed infrastructure investment across Upstate New York, Such investment not only ensures safe roads and bridges, it helps to create jobs in areas where the economy is struggling.” Senator John A. DeFrancisco, Deputy Majority Leader of the State Senate, said about the initiative, “Our infrastructure in New York State is continuing to crumble. We need to invest in rebuilding this deteriorating infrastructure, including our aging roads and bridges and water and sewer lines, in order to improve public safety, commerce and the overall quality of life.”
