DOT Commissioners, Federal Officials and Civic Leaders To Discuss Plans at May 20th Conference Hosted by NYU and Federal Reserve Bank of NY
NEW YORK - Seeking to reverse years of go-it-alone lobbying in pursuit of federal funding for state-specific transportation projects, the commissioners of transportation of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut aim to pursue a coordinated strategy in an effort to maximize funding for regional highway, transit and rail projects from the TEA-21 reauthorization bill pending before Congress. The NYU Wagner School of Public Service’s Rudin Center for Transportation Policy & Management and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York are co-hosting a conference between transportation and political leaders to discuss these regional transportation needs and try to reach consensus around key agenda issues for reauthorization.
WHEN: Tuesday May 20, 2003 9:30 am breakfast, 10 am - 12:30 pm meeting
WHERE: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Conference Center [Entrance at 33 Liberty]
Among the key participants expected are New York Transportation Commissioner Joseph Boardman, Connecticut Transportation Commissioner James F. Byrnes, Jr., New Jersey Transportation Commissioner Jack Lettiere, NYC Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall, New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Connecticut Congressman Christopher Shays, former New Jersey Governor James J. Florio, Christopher Bruhl, president/CEO of SACIA-The Business Council of Southwestern Connecticut, and Katherine Wylde, president and CEO of Partnership for NYC.
“To be successful, the region must think and act as one, seeking stronger partnerships not only with each other, but also with the other Northeastern states and with selected states around the country,” says Elliot Sander, co-director of the NYU Wagner Rudin Center.
Among the main topics of discussion, Sander says, will be the region’s current needs, including maintaining aging infrastructure, congestion levels, and lack of transportation linkages in key areas; the region’s projected needs, including new infrastructure and ITS development and implementation to support projected growth in movements of goods and people; and the importance of federal support for transportation and thinking of it in regional terms.
Media coverage of this invitation-only conference is welcome - reporters wishing to attend are asked to register ahead of time. Please call John Beckman at 212 998-6840 for more information and/or to RSVP.</p>