House bill funds 3 Ulster projects, Rep. Delgado says
KINGSTON, N.Y. >> Funding for five infrastructure projects in New York’s 19th Congressional District, including three in Ulster County, are part of the “INVEST in America Act” approved by the House of Representatives, according to U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado.
The bill still must be voted on by the
Senate, which could change some of the allocations.
The INVEST (Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation) in America Act also includes eight pieces of legislation led by Delgado, DRhinebeck, to address PFAS contamination, strengthen limousine safety and bolster broadband internet access, among other things, the congressman’s office said.
“Upstate families deserve clean water, safe roads and affordable broadband,” Delgado said in a statement. “The INVEST in America Act will improve our quality of life, support small businesses, create good-paying jobs, tackle the climate crisis, and make our nation competitive on the world stage. I am proud to secure funding for local surface transportation projects ... [that will] repave roads, repair bridges and improve our upstate infrastructure.”
Included in the Houseapproved version of the bill, Delgado’s office said, are $3.6 million to repave state Route 299 in the towns of New Paltz and Gardiner; $800,000 to help Ulster County Area Transit transition to a fully electrified fleet; and about $6 million for the “Safe and Accessible Midtown Kingston” initiative, which would connect affordable and senior housing complexes to business districts and improve two railroad crossings.
For other parts of the 19th Congressional District, the House bill has funding for a bridge replacement in Schoharie and a traffic roundabout in Oneonta, according to Delgado’s office.
According to The Washington Post, the approximately $760 billion transportation and water infrastructure bill passed the House 221-201 on Thursday, with two Republicans joining Democrats in support.
The package includes $343 billion for roads, bridges and safety programs; $109 billion for transit agencies; and $95 billion for rail, the Post reported. It also includes $117 billion for drinking water programs and $51 billion for wastewater infrastructure. Amendments to the bill before it was voted on added at least $44 billion, mostly to support the adoption of electric vehicles.