FY 2010 TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT BILL INCLUDES FUNDS FOR BRONX, ROCKLAND AND WESTCHESTER PROJECTS

Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel voted to provide funds to keep our transportation system safe and secure, and ensure every American has access to adequate shelter. The bill focuses on strengthening the economy and being environmentally responsible. Contained in the funding bill, passed by the House by a vote of 256 to 168, is $180,000 in funding for the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, $900,000 in funding for the Yonkers Ashburton Avenue Corridor, $135,000 for Friends Helping Friends in Ramapo and $200,000 for the Pearl River Chamber of Commerce.

H.R. 3288, the Fiscal Year 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill, invests in maintaining and improving our nation’s airports, highways, passenger rail and transit systems. It also ensures all low-income Americans, have a place to call home by investing in programs for vulnerable populations, including Section 8 Rental Assistance, Housing for Persons with AIDS, and Housing for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities.

“I believe the investments made in this bill are important steps in the right direction, especially since the strengthening of our nation’s economy and infrastructure will take roots in the revitalization of our hometowns. The best way of doing that is to make sure our citizens have a decent place to live and safe and efficient ways of getting to work and connecting with other parts of the country. The investments made here are long overdue, and will be extremely beneficial to the people of the Bronx, Rockland and Westchester Counties,” said Rep. Engel.

The funding for the local projects includes:

• Restore 6.7 miles of trails in Van Cortlandt Park for safe recreational trail usage for hikers, bikers and horseback riders.
• Widen the Ashburton Avenue corridor, which is an important link in tying the downtown waterfront to the Saw Mill River and Cross County Parkways, as well as the New York State Thruway.
• Friends Helping Friends will purchase a customized van to transport sick passengers to medical appointments and outpatient treatments.
• The Pearl River Chamber of Commerce will use the funds for a streetscape improvement program as part of the Pearl River Downtown Revitalization Plan. Improvements will be made to sidewalks, curbs and tree wells, along with removal of overhead power lines and utility poles on Central Avenue and on North and South Main Streets.

“All of these projects will be very helpful in bringing improvements to all corners of the 17th Congressional District, and I am pleased to have them included in this legislation. All of the local organizations receiving funds are doing outstanding work on behalf of the people of the Bronx, Rockland and Westchester and I look forward to seeing the results of their efforts come to fruition,” added Rep. Engel.

H.R. 3288 also accomplishes the following, among the many provisions of the bill:

• $1.83 billion for improvements made to commuter rail and other light rail systems.
• $8.34 billion for upgrading transit systems, including new buses, stations, intermodal facilities and technology improvements
• $41 billion for improvements and repairs to the aging highway infrastructure.
• $2.5 billion for Public Housing Authorities to make repairs and improvements to public housing units and to improve living conditions.
• $18.2 billion for Section 8 tenant vouchers and $75 million for housing vouchers for homeless veterans.
• $1 billion to rehabilitate and build housing for low-income elderly people.

This action was a major step in the appropriations process. The full Senate is also working on their version of the bill, and the differences between the two bills will need to be ironed out in conference. “I remain hopeful the funding contained in this measure, for the 17th District of New York, will remain in the final version, and I am working with my colleagues to ensure it is,” added Rep. Engel.