Western New York officials say many of their priority local projects will not qualify for Federal economic stimulus funding (a new Peace Bridge, removal of the Skyway, and others) because they can't be started within 180 days -- a key requirement intended to immediately boost state job creation across the country. And according to a page one story in the Buffalo News they are also disappointed with what they say is an unbalanced state list that includes hundreds of millions of dollars to fund projects on college campuses, while leaving off several important local initiatives that are ready to go.
Total funding on the initial state list would actually provide Western New York with a higher share of the pie than its population might warrant, but the vast majority of it is slated for educational buildings -- some of which were already promised by the state -- according to the officials.
Among the projects the officials seek to add: $40 million for Buffalo Sewer Authority improvements in Lackawanna; $25 million for a multimodal transportation center and parking garage at the medical campus; $72 million to expand the Erie County Holding Center; and tens of millions more for park repairs and new public safety facilities. A local Congressman says most of these projects are "shovel ready," and Albany's list will have to change "dramatically."
See the full story: http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/573080.html
