Statement from Senator Catharine M. Young Regarding Interstate 86 Agreement between Governor Cuomo and Seneca Nation

Catharine Young

August 6, 2012

OLEAN – "People across the Southern Tier and the traveling public are jumping for joy at this news,” said Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I-Olean).

"Fixing I-86 is a public safety and economic priority, and I commend Gov. Cuomo and the Seneca Nation for working together to find a solution. Getting construction underway immediately will put people to work and alleviate increasingly dangerous roadway conditions. The highway literally was breaking into pieces. We couldn't be more thrilled that an agreement was reached,” said Senator Young.

"This year, the State Senate successfully worked hard to correct a funding inequity that occurred when New York City representatives controlled the State Legislature in 2009-2010. At that time, those in the majority diverted $167 million of our region's road and bridge funding downstate. Now that we are back in charge, my Senate Majority changed the state budget this year to recoup our transportation dollars. It was disheartening to see the I-86 repaving languish because the funding was in place. Now those dollars will be put to great use as part of our region's transportation plan,” said Senator Young.

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