Hall Meets with DOT and Local Officials to Discuss Hudson Valley Highway Investments, Local Opportunities for Federal Transportation Dollars

Press Release

Hall Meets with DOT and Local Officials to Discuss Hudson Valley Highway Investments, Local Opportunities for Federal Transportation Dollars

U.S. Rep. John Hall (D-Dover) joined with New York State Department of Transportation and local officials today at the Poughkeepsie Town Hall to discuss local opportunities for federal transportation funding in the upcoming Highway Reauthorization Bill. In the coming months, Rep. Hall will be working in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on which he serves to ensure that Hudson Valley priorities are represented in the Highway Reauthorization bill, legislation authorized by Congress every five years that provides billions in infrastructure funding to rebuild America's roads, bridges, rail and transit systems.

"We in Congress have a historic opportunity to overhaul and revitalize our transportation policy so that it meets the triple challenges of improving mobility, promoting energy efficiency, and preventing climate change," said Congressman Hall. "I'm very excited to be on the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, working on these issues and finding solutions to help the Hudson Valley, and all of New York, meet the challenges of the coming decade."

At today's meeting, Hall provided information to local officials about the Highway Bill, criteria to be eligible for projects funded by the legislation, and how officials can develop their projects. The next steps will be for Congressman Hall to take project requests from local officials and decide how best to advocate for them.

"I'd like everyone to think about this bill as more than just a bonanza of projects," said Hall. "Instead, let's start thinking of it as an opportunity to take the first step forward towards a 21st Century transportation network. This bill should not only focus on building and repairing roads and bridges, but also on increasing the share of funding going towards transit. It is an opportunity to increase funding for alternative modes of transportation, like intercity passenger rail, bicycles and pedestrian walking paths. It can be used to change the way we think about land use planning, so that we focus on smart growth, good land use planning principles, and transit oriented development and complete streets. It is an opportunity to encourage the use of renewable fuels and electric vehicles, which can help prevent further climate change."

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