New York’s transportation network is the backbone of our community and the lifeblood of our state economy. Investing in transportation means a healthy, more vibrant Buffalo Niagara.
But that can only happen with adequate funding. The Federal Highway Bill, which funds our transportation projects, is set to expire this year. It is estimated that our Federal Highway Trust Fund will be bankrupt by August.
Every major transportation project in New York State is now in potential jeopardy. Even with an extension of the funding, future projects will be competing for increasingly scarce dollars.
The following initiatives all depend on the Federal Highway Trust Fund:
- Extending Metro Rail
- Maintaining & enhancing NFTA bus service
- Completing “Cars Sharing Main Street”
- Redevelopment of the Scajaquada Expressway
- Routine road maintenance and repair
On May 2, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership will host the first ever Buffalo Niagara Transportation Summit, bringing state and national leaders to discuss the importance of investment in our transportation infrastructure. Topics will focus on creative means of increasing funding for transportation projects, gaining more local control over projects as well as ways to make project delivery more efficient and cost effective.
Speakers for the event include:
- Greg Nadeau – Deputy Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration
- Janet Kavinoky – Executive Director of Transportation & Infrastructure for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Marilyn Shazor – Region 2 Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration
- Karen Rae – NYS Assistant Secretary of Transportation, NYS Governor’s Office
The event will be followed by an Implementation Roundtable with the One Region Forward project team, engaging the event’s experts with the local project team to discuss. It is a unique opportunity to work with national industry experts to craft our regional sustainability plan.
Register for the event and see the complete list of speakers