Infrastructure and Jobs
Investing in our infrastructure has historically been a non-partisan issue. However, in recent years, Congress’ investment in addressing America’s crumbling infrastructure has been pathetically weak. The American Society of Civil Engineers gives our infrastructure a D+ grade and the World Economic Forum ranks America 24th in infrastructure. Transportation for America estimates that there are 63,000 structurally deficient bridges in the United States – 2088 in New York State and 99 in Western New York alone. Brian has consistently called on Congress to make a bold investment in nation building right here at home. In 2012 he introduced the Nation Building Here at Home Act , which would have invested $1.2 trillion over five years to rebuild our infrastructure, with the potential to create 27 million jobs and reduce unemployment to 5.6 percent.
More on Infrastructure and Jobs
Buffalo, NY - Mayor Byron Brown and Congressman Brian Higgins officially re-opened a 1.4 mile stretch of Ohio Street today, which continues to undergo an $11.3 million rehabilitation. Ohio Street is now operational, with nearly 70% of the work completed. The remainder of the project will be completed in spring 2015.
Congressman Brian Higgins, City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, New York State Assemblyman Sean Ryan and Buffalo City Councilman David Rivera announced the start of a major reconstruction project on the Ferry Street Bridge connecting Niagara Street to Squaw Island.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (October 8, 2014) – Health care for kids and their mothers took a major leap forward today as Kaleida Health held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital.
Physicians, employees, donors, elected officials, and other dignitaries were on hand to kick off construction on the new $270 million facility.
BUFFALO – Buffalo motorists may notice a few new changes to the $11.3 million Ohio Street construction project. Today, Mayor Byron Brown and Congressman Brian Higgins announced that crews, who started the conversion process two months ago, are on track for early completion, with 40% of the infrastructure redevelopment project completed.
“Today’s discussion about transporting people between the inner and outer harbors is a welcome one resulting from the significant transformation of Buffalo’s waterfront. The Buffalo waterfront saw its first public water-based transportation with the debut of the Queen City Ferry in 2011, and continued dialogue about public access to the water is timely. I applaud the New York Power Authority for responding to an effort for expanded ferry service we initiated two years ago and are pleased it is now moving forward thanks to willing partnerships and new public demand.”
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) is supporting efforts by the City of Buffalo to secure additional federal transportation funding for the Cars Sharing Main Street project. With the help of Higgins, the project that is returning cars to the Main Street business district, has already received $21 million in federal funding. In April, Higgins wrote to the US Transportation Secretary supporting an application by the City of Buffalo for additional funding through the TIGER6-FY14 program to continue the project further up Main Street.