Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey today announced that the full U.S. Senate has approved federal funding for several Pennsylvania transportation projects. The projects are contained in the Fiscal Year 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Bill which passed the Senate last night by a vote of 73-25.
“I am pleased that my colleagues have recognized the importance of these transportation projects in Pennsylvania,” said Senator Specter. “These projects are necessary advancements to improve our roadways, mass transit infrastructure and an important force for economic growth in our local communities.”
“I applaud my colleagues for their work this week in passing the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill,” said Senator Casey. “The projects secured in this bill will directly benefit Pennsylvanians by improving infrastructure and creating jobs.”
The bill must be conferenced with the House of Representatives and signed into law by the President before funding is final.
Pennsylvania transportation projects in the bill include:
Northeast
• $3 million for the Northwest New Jersey to Northeast Pennsylvania Passenger Rail Project to bring provide commuter train service from Scranton to New York City. This commuter rail would provide service to Monroe, Wayne, Lackawanna and Pike Counties in Pennsylvania, which include the fastest growing counties in Pennsylvania in terms of population.
Lehigh Valley
• $500,000 for the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority to purchase hybrid buses. This funding will support the multiyear purchase of heavy-duty, hybrid powered transit buses which are proven to reduce maintenance costs, emissions and fuel consumption by approximately 40%.
Southwest
• $1.4 million for the Flight 93 National Memorial for transportation and infrastructure to and within the park. The funding will be used to support the infrastructure, including a new entrance and approach road directly off of US Route 30 for access to the Field of Honor and Sacred Ground. This new roadway is approximately 2 miles in length and improves an existing road previously used for coal trucks. This funding is necessary to support ongoing development and ensure dedication of the Memorial on September 11, 2011.
• $1 million for the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh to build a pedestrian cap over I-579. This project creates a new urban green space and reconnects the Lower Hill District to downtown.
Southeast
• $1.3 million for Montgomery County for improvements to the US Route 422 Off-Ramp in Oaks Township. The reconstruction of the westbound off-ramp at the Oaks interchange will mitigate traffic congestion at the intersection of U.S. Route 422 and Egypt Road, which are heavily traveled commuter corridors.
Central
• $1 million for Franklin County for improvements to Exit 3 off I-81 in Antrim Township. This project would connect Interstate 81 and U.S. Route 11 to the east, involving the reconstruction of the U.S. Route 11 Bridge over Interstate 81, as well as six ramp improvements at the existing I-81 and U.S. Route 11 interchange. This project is necessary to address traffic deficiencies and create capacity for the planned Antrim Commons Business Park, a 500-acre facility providing 6 million square feet of industrial space and 300,000 square feet of retail and commercial space that will create hundreds of new jobs.
Northwest
• $500,000 for Lawrence County for improvements to the Interchange of Routes 60 and 422 in Union Township. The funding will widen on and off ramps from single lane access to double lane access and allow for the redesignation of Route 60 to Interstate 376.
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