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For Immediate Release
March 29, 2004 |
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Shays Assesses I-95 Accident Area
Bridgeport, CT - Today, Congressman Christopher Shays (R-Bridgeport)
joined Emil Frankel, Assistant Secretary of Transportation
for Policy, Governor John Rowland, Senators Christopher Dodd
and Joseph Lieberman, Connecticut Department of Transportation
Commissioner Jim Byrnes, and Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi
at the site of last Thursday night’s accident on I-95.
“The accident which occurred last week was a horrific
event. However, I am grateful that there were no fatalities
and for the quick response of the federal, state and local
governments. I am particularly grateful to the Mayor and the
fire, police and other first responders for how well they
have worked together to minimize the inconvenience to the
commuting public,” Shays said. “With extraordinary
commitment and coordination, we achieved in hours what can
sometimes take days or weeks. This has been a team effort
that speaks well of the community’s response at all levels.”
“I-95 is crucial to Connecticut, the Northeast and the
country, and that is why it is so important to the President
and me that we invest in keeping the American economy moving,”
explained U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta.
“The accident underscored the importance of first responder
funding. In my legislation, the National Preparedness Standards
Act, first responder funding will be allocated to denser areas
with a higher risk of emergency,” Shays explained.
Last October Shays introduced the National Preparedness Standards
Act, which calls for risk-based funding of first responders.
The legislation was rolled into Chairman Christopher Cox’s
Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Bill, which
passed the Select Committee on Homeland Security on March
17.
“The accident also illustrated our region’s dependence
on I-95. Not only is it important to get the road in working
order again, but it is essential that we continue efforts
to improve other modes of transportation, including ferry,
barge and rail,” Shays explained. “We must continue
our efforts to dredge Fairfield County’s commercial harbors.
The more oil that can be moved by barge, the fewer tankers
we’ll have traveling I-95.”
Shays has worked with the Connecticut’s Senators to
secure $82.95 million in funding for transportation improvements
in the Fourth District, including:
· Stamford Urban Transitway: $37 million
· Bridgeport Intermodal Center: $23.5 million
· Stamford High-Speed Ferry: $1 million
· Bridgeport High-Speed Ferry: $2.25 million
· Fairfield Commerce Drive Station: $4 million
· Norwalk Pulse Point Improvements: $500,000
· “East of Hudson” Rail Freight planning:
$12 million
· Norwalk Harbor Dredging: $1.2 million
· Bridgeport Harbor Dredging: $1.5 million
Shays has been promoting a Transportation Strategy Board’s
plan to improve Connecticut’s rail system by: purchasing
20-30 current-generation rail cars; designing a new rail maintenance
equipment facility; revisiting and reviewing the feasibility
of extending a "3rd-rail" power source from Woodlawn,
New York to New Haven; and upon the completion of the review,
begin designing the next generation of rail cars on an accelerated
basis.
Contact: Sarah Moore,
202/225-5541
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