(Washington, DC): -- Congressman Michael R. McNulty (D-Green Island) has announced that the final House-Senate Conference agreement on the federal transportation funding bill, which passed in the House of Representatives this morning, includes over $22 million for highway and transit projects in the Capital Region.

By a vote of 412-8, the House passed the Transportation Equity Act, a $286.5 billion package that dedicates funding for national and regional highway projects and transit programs for fiscal years 2004 thru 2009. The following Capital Region projects will be authorized to receive the funding amount listed over the next five years:

(*Route 5 Bus Improvements project will receive funds over next 4 fiscal years)

“After nearly two years of delays and extensions, negotiators have finally delivered a surface transportation bill that benefits the nation, our State, and the 21st Congressional District,” said an elated McNulty. “From a statewide perspective, this bill is a major victory. All Members of the delegation, particularly our two Senators and my House colleagues who sit on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, deserve credit for coming through in a big way for our State.”

McNulty noted that over the five-year life of the bill, New York State would receive roughly $10 billion for highway projects, a nineteen percent increase over the last long-term transportation bill, and $6.5 billion for mass transit, an increase of thirty percent.

“Highways, bridges and transit systems in the Northeast are in desperate need of repair or replacement. This bill not only addresses those infrastructure needs, but will also have a tremendous effect on the economy by creating thousands of good-paying construction jobs and fostering economic development. The projects for which I specifically requested funding will have a similar impact within the Capital Region.

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