Transportation Chairman: Intends to Include Projects Like I-84/I-91 Tunnel Proposal in Transportation Bill

Statement

Today, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Peter DeFazio (OR-04) joined Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) in East Hartford, CT to discuss the future of the Hartford region's infrastructure.

"The I-84 and I-91 interchange is a great example of a project where we can fix the mistakes of the past and build in the resilience we will need in the future. This is not just a Hartford problem, or a Connecticut problem, or a New England problem, this is a national issue. There are many places like this around the country that need this investment. Communities can't do it on their own, the federal government has to be a partner. The Federal partner has been absent for way too long in Washington, D.C. That's going to change, this is doable. The key thing here is that both of the highways that run through Hartford have an "I' in front of them, they're interstate highways. This is the 14th most congested bottleneck in the country, the second in New England, and the first in Connecticut. This is a project of national significance, and I fully intend when I write the policy and we do the bill, that we are going include projects of national and regional significance in that bill. We're going to fund them and we're going to make those investments that are long overdue," said Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Peter DeFazio (OR-04).

"For too long the Hartford region has had to live with the mistakes of the past. I am proud to host Chairman DeFazio today in East Hartford to discuss the I-84 and I-91 tunnel proposal that will transform the Hartford region. The tunnel proposal addresses some of Greater Hartford's most complex infrastructure challenges, including the I-84/I-91 interchange. The plan also would allow Hartford to recapture its riverfront, reconnect the North End of the city to downtown, allow for more intermodal transportation options, and repair the levees along the Connecticut River. This is an opportunity to transform the region and we will make this happen," said Rep. John Larson.

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