Brooklyn's Progress
November 2003

From the CANYS Chamber Connection (A Newsletter for the Chamber Alliance of New York State, Inc.)

In anticipation of the September 30, 2003, expiration of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), the successor to previous Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Acts (ISTEA), Congress authorized a five month extension of the current legislation. The extension contains only a small increase in funding and does not address the long term planning needs of states and localities.

During its annual lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce supported the reauthorization of TEA-21.  The  Chamber hoped to maximize Congressional earmarks for Brooklyn projects including the Cross Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel.  Brooklyn Chamber President Kenneth Adams is one of the 19 leaders of MoveNY, which is dedicated to improving the region’s freight transportation system through the constructionof the cross-harbor rail freight tunnel.

TEA-21 is the largest public works bill in history, making available to the states nearly $218 billion in Federal funding for highway, highway safety and other programs over six years. New York's Congressional delegation and its elected and appointed leaders are continuing their efforts to insure the reauthorization of TEA-21 that reflects New York's needs.

During the next five months, New York State Commissioner of Transportation Joseph Boardman and the "TEA-21 Reauthorization Team," headed in Washington by former Assembly Minority Leader John Faso, will work with Congress in reauthorizing the act. New York's Senators and Representatives as well as Transportation and Infrastructure Committee members Boehlert and Nadler will be working to secure TEA-21 legislation that reflects the needs of New York State.

In conjunction with these efforts the "ISTEA Works in New York Coalition", on which The Business Council serves, will continue its education efforts to secure favorable TEA-21 legislation prior to its expiration in February 2004.

For more information on TEA-21 access:
TEA-3 Coalition: http://www.istea.org/ or ISTEA Works in New York State Coalition: http://www.dot.state.ny.us/istea/index.html