WASHINGTON - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) released the following statement on the announcement by State Rep. Todd A. Eachus (D-Luzerne) today that the state has committed $4.8 million in funding over the next four years to Hazleton's Church Street Station Intermodal Transit Center for the construction of much-needed parking decks at the facility.  Congressman Kanjorski obtained significant federal funding for the project in the highway transportation bill, and most recently, over $1.5 million from the Recovery Act.  Congressman Kanjorski provided the following statement:

"I applaud State Rep. Eachus for his dedicated efforts to ensure that the Hazleton Intermodal Center receives the parking it needs at such a central location in downtown Hazleton.  It has taken a great deal of effort at the federal and state levels to ensure that this project is appropriately completed.  While the intermodal center provides many benefits, the initial construction removed 100 parking spots from downtown which caused problems for local businesses, residents, and shoppers.  Now, as a result of the federal funding that I helped secure, and the state funding the State Rep. Eachus has worked hard to obtain, the intermodal center will soon add two new parking decks to solve this dilemma.  The intermodal center should help propel economic development in Hazleton, and the additional parking will only help to make this possible."

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