Transportation
Information regarding my stance on Transportation issues.
“Each day the Memphis Area Transit Authority transports tens of thousands of people around the city and Shelby County safely and efficiently. These funds will allow the Authority to purchase 35 state-of-the-art busses and technology to improve rider safety and the efficiency of the system,” Congressman Cohen said. “Access to affordable and reliable transportation is crucial to promoting economic development. I was proud to support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and am grateful that these funds are moving quickly to our district.”
The grant provides funding for phase one reconstruction of Runway 9/27, the oldest runway at Memphis International. The asphalt runway has undergone numerous surface repairs and this project will totally reconstruct the runway with concrete. Additionally, this grant provides for partial reimbursement for costs associated with the construction of Taxiway V.
I am very pleased with my subcommittee appointments on the Transportation Committee. We will play a vital role in shaping the upcoming American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan that President-elect Obama is supporting. We will work hard with the new administration to reach the goal of creating and saving between 3 and 4 million jobs in the next two years by, among other things, repairing the country’s crumbling infrastructure.
The legislation authorizes $13.06 billion over five years for passenger rail – more than $2.6 billion annually for Amtrak, intercity passenger rail, and high speed rail programs, which is almost double what the U.S. is currently spending.
“I am very pleased to report that MATA has been awarded these monies for updating their advanced public transportation systems,” said Congressman Cohen. “I have made the improvement of our public transportation infrastructure in the 9th District a major priority during my tenure, and I applaud the DOT for awarding MATA the necessary funding to serve our community better.”