Media/Press
James Phillips – The Bradford Era
February 21, 2012James Phillips is president and CEO
President and CEO Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance
Western Pennsylvania needs new jobs,increased economic development, connections and safe roads! These goals can be accomplished by completing Route 219 to become the region’s only north-south highway.
A landmark piece of legislation currently before Congress known as the “American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act” includes language that will allow toll credits to be used for construction financing in Pennsylvania. If this Act passes, toll credits will fund the next stage of Route 219 construction between Somerset and Meyersdale in Pennsylvania. These toll credits would be used as the $35 million state match for the $350 million construction total and could begin almost immediately.
Read MoreThe time is now for Route 219
February 21, 2012JAMES PHILLIPS
President and CEO Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance
Western Pennsylvania needs new jobs, increased economic development, connections and safe roads! These goals can be accomplished by completing Route 219 to become the region’s only north-south highway.
A landmark piece of legislation currently before Congress known as the “American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act” includes language that will allow toll credits to be used for construction financing in Pennsylvania. If this Act passes, toll credits will fund the next stage of Route 219 construction between Somerset and Meyersdale in Pennsylvania. These toll credits would be used as the $35 million state match for the $350 million construction total and could begin almost immediately.
Read MoreNYS Senator Grisanti letter on NYSDOT funding
February 8, 2012Attached you will find a letter from Senator Mark Grisanti to DOT Commissioner Joan McDonald regarding the DOT’s $167 million funding error in Region 5. Our WNY legislative delegation has gotten out in front on this issue and is doing a very good job of keeping the heat turned up.
I urge all FAIR Committee members to contact their legislators, in writing preferably, and to point out the importance of full restoration of this lost funding as soon as possible. A letter to the Governor as well would not hurt.
I will be providing you all with up to date contact information for your legislators in the very near future.
Please be advised that your FAIR Executive has been meeting, and will continue to meet, with your legislators seeking an expedited correction of this egregious error.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this most serious matter.
– John Neidhart
FAIR Committee
Click HERE to download the letter.
Extending Route 219 will have far-reaching benefits
February 6, 2012James Phillips
Another Voice – Buffalo News
Februaury 6, 2012
Transportation connections are the lifeblood of trade, economic activity, jobs, state tax generation and quality of life. Currently, we have a blockage in the region’s only north-south highway artery, Route 219, and it needs construction surgery.
DOT’s stunning backtrack
February 6, 2012Buffalo News Editorials
February 4, 2012
The denial by the state’s commissioner of transportation of a $167 million funding error, which has prevented many of this area’s roads and bridges from being repaired and cost Western New York jobs, is nothing short of shocking.
