New York, NY – (RealEstateRama) — Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), a long time champion for investing in New York City’s infrastructure, expressed serious concerns about the proposed cuts to infrastructure investments in President Trump’s recent budget preview. On March 16, President Trump submitted to Congress his budget outline, or “skinny budget,” which proposed massive cuts to the Department of Transportation that will hamstring infrastructure projects across the country. His full budget is expected later this spring.
“The President has said he is planning a historic infrastructure program for our country, yet in his first budget proposal to Congress he is calling for historic cuts to the Department of Transportation that could delay important infrastructure projects across New York City and the country,” said Rep. Maloney. “I am proud to have helped secure more than $10 billion in federal funding to the city for a wide array of infrastructure investments – projects that created jobs, improved quality of life, reduced overcrowding, and improved safety. There are few better ways to improve our communities and create jobs than infrastructure investments. I hope the President reverses course and follows through on his initial plans to massively increase federal infrastructure investments.”
Background on Rep. Maloney Infrastructure Investments
Rep. Maloney has helped secure more than $10 billion on federal funding for infrastructure projects across the Congressional District she represents[1]. These include:
- $1.3 billion in federal funding for the first phase of the Second Avenue Subway
- $2.6 billion in federal funding to build the East Side Access and bring the LIRR to Grand Central Station.
- $670 million in federal funding to replace the aging Kosciuszko Bridge
- $500 million in federal funding to repair the Canarsie Tunnel on the L Train that was damaged by Superstorm Sandy
- $355 million in federal funding for the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project
- $300 million in federal funding to upgrade the Harold Interlocking, to give LIRR, Amtrak, and NJ Transit their own tracks and prepare the way for high-speed rail to Boston.
- $306 million in federal funding for the 63rd Street Tunnel Connector
Background on President’s Budget Outline
President Trump’s “skinny budget” proposes a $2.4 billion cut from the Department of Transportation’s budget – a 13 percent decrease for the agency responsible for making infrastructure investments throughout the country. This would lead to the elimination or delay of infrastructure projects already under consideration for federal funding and would force local government to try to make up the difference with higher fares, taxes or service cuts.
The budget proposal completely eliminates the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program that helped provide nearly $4.6 billion in competitive grants for transit, planning, rail, port, bicycle, road, and bridge projects from 2009 to 2016. In New York, TIGER has provided $25 million for our Vision Zero campaign, which helped make 2015 and 2016 record-setting years for reductions in traffic fatalities in our city.
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[1] All appropriation bills require the support of a majority of members of the House and Senate and must be signed by the President.
