Senator Hillary Clinton has partnered with Congressman Higgins to lead an effort in the Senate to approve a bill–passed on the House of Representatives yesterday– which includes $3 million toward a plan to expand public access to waterfront land currently occupied by the Buffalo station for the United States Coast Guard.
The additional funding would bring the total federal commitment to this project to $6.1 million, paired with $3.1 million secured in a bill approved in January.
“This new federal commitment sets this project on course for funding to proceed to construction,” said Congressman Higgins. “We bring Buffalo closer to reaching its waterfront potential through projects like this which expand public access and incorporate Buffalo’s unique history ultimately leading to increased regional economic development and tourism.”
With 31 acres on the City of Buffalo’s Outer Harbor, the Coast Guard Buffalo Sector prevents public access to a significant portion of the City’s waterfront, including the historic Buffalo Lighthouse. The Coast Guard acknowledges that the site is too large for its needs and drew up plans in 2003 to upgrade older facilities and consolidate them in a way that would meet its operational needs and allow for future growth, while remanding some of the land back to the public.
“This funding is a wise investment in the continued growth and resurgence of Buffalo’s waterfront,” said Senator Clinton, “In addition to opening up valuable green space to Buffalonians, we are also giving Sector Buffalo the means to evaluate how they can best maintain a strong Coast Guard presence in the area. I thank Congressman Higgins for his leadership on this issue, and I look forward to help in passing this legislation when it comes before the Senate.”
Ongoing initiatives include: construction of the Outer Harbor Parkway, a $70 million, and highly debated project transforming Fuhrmann Boulevard into a two-way road accompanied by pedestrian paths and boardwalks; and a study, led by the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation, that will look at construction of a new bridge to connect the inner and outer harbors.
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