Congressman Hanna discusses Federal Transportation Bill
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: August 22, 2012
You might notice some major changes coming to highways and transit
systems. President Obama recently signed into law a highway, safety, and
transit legislation known as Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century bill, or
MAP-21. Congressman Richard Hanna was in Utica today to discuss the
recent legislation. Eyewitness News reporter Rachel Polansky was at the
discussion and she joins us live in the studio. Rachel, what's this new
transportation bill about?
Congressmen Hanna says that MAP-21 is a 2-year program that will give New York $6 billion dollars, and the ability to plan long-term for transportation projects. He says the program considers major metropolitan areas as well as the smaller communities. And area residents I spoke with say they welcome the change.
"The roads are absolutely ridiculous, there's pot holes everywhere," says Caroline Kaiser, Utica resident.
"Pot holes, unevenness of the roads, its rough," says Andrew Schmitt, Utica resident.
Utica residents say the news of the new transportation bill is a long time coming. Congressman Hanna says MAP-21 provides $105 billion dollars for transportation programs nationwide, and it also means more jobs.
"Roughly 35 thousand jobs are created through every billion dollars that's spent. It'll put a lot of people back to work," says Congressman Hanna.
"Gives businesses, state, the confidence to invest in projects that spring jobs and economic productivity in the future," says Alex Herrgott, Director of Transportation Policy.
Now the 2-year re-authorization will give New York the ability to plan and fund long term construction projects - and some community members say they welcome the change.
"I hope it goes through, we need the money. Things need to be done in this city," says Dennis Caryl, Utica resident.
"Hopefully politicians can clean up the city more than it is right now," says Schmitt.
Officials say U.S. trails countries like Brazil, China, and Canada in exports and they hope a bill like this will change that.
"It lets us move our goods and services and helps us compete internationally," says Congressman Hanna.
"And because of the reforms we've set a foundation to develop revenue and to adequately address congestion and deteriorating roads 50 years ago," says Herrgott.
New Yorkers will receive over one and a half billion dollars in highway funding in each 2013 and 2014 fiscal year. Now congressman Hanna says the transportation bill has always been longer than 2 years and he's already pressing for a long term bill. And he hopes Central New Yorkers will begin seeing changes very soon.
Congressmen Hanna says that MAP-21 is a 2-year program that will give New York $6 billion dollars, and the ability to plan long-term for transportation projects. He says the program considers major metropolitan areas as well as the smaller communities. And area residents I spoke with say they welcome the change.
"The roads are absolutely ridiculous, there's pot holes everywhere," says Caroline Kaiser, Utica resident.
"Pot holes, unevenness of the roads, its rough," says Andrew Schmitt, Utica resident.
Utica residents say the news of the new transportation bill is a long time coming. Congressman Hanna says MAP-21 provides $105 billion dollars for transportation programs nationwide, and it also means more jobs.
"Roughly 35 thousand jobs are created through every billion dollars that's spent. It'll put a lot of people back to work," says Congressman Hanna.
"Gives businesses, state, the confidence to invest in projects that spring jobs and economic productivity in the future," says Alex Herrgott, Director of Transportation Policy.
Now the 2-year re-authorization will give New York the ability to plan and fund long term construction projects - and some community members say they welcome the change.
"I hope it goes through, we need the money. Things need to be done in this city," says Dennis Caryl, Utica resident.
"Hopefully politicians can clean up the city more than it is right now," says Schmitt.
Officials say U.S. trails countries like Brazil, China, and Canada in exports and they hope a bill like this will change that.
"It lets us move our goods and services and helps us compete internationally," says Congressman Hanna.
"And because of the reforms we've set a foundation to develop revenue and to adequately address congestion and deteriorating roads 50 years ago," says Herrgott.
New Yorkers will receive over one and a half billion dollars in highway funding in each 2013 and 2014 fiscal year. Now congressman Hanna says the transportation bill has always been longer than 2 years and he's already pressing for a long term bill. And he hopes Central New Yorkers will begin seeing changes very soon.
