NY DELEGATION, DEPUTY TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY DOWNEY PRESENT FIRST INSTALLMENT FOR EAST SIDE ACCESS PROJECT

The New York City and Long Island congressional delegation today joined Deputy Secretary of Transportation Mort Downey to award the first installment of federal funds for the East Side Access Project. The $43 million check, which will fund the final design and initial construction phases of the project, was presented to E. Virgil Conway, New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman and CEO.

Senators Charles E. Schumer and Daniel Patrick Moynihan stood with Representatives Greg Meeks, Peter King and Carolyn McCarthy to present the check.

"I want to thank and commend my predecessor Al D'Amato, who unfortunately could not be here today, and my colleague Pat Moynihan for all their hard work on the East Side Access Project," said Sen. Schumer. "Without their relentless efforts to fund this project, we would not be standing here today."

The East Side Access Project, a joint federalstate effort, is a rail link from the Long Island Railroad via the 63 ^rd Street Tunnel to Grand Central Station that will help tens of thousands of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens commuters save up to three hours off their daily commutes. The project will also free up much needed capacity in Penn Station, take thousands of cars off congested New York roads and help remove 800 tons of pollutants from the air.

" These funds represent an important commitment by the Administration to help Long Island and New York City meet the transportation needs of the coming century and spur New York's continued economic growth," said Schumer. "Our region has prospered on the infrastructure investments our grandparents made. But it's time for a new generation of commitments. "

Funding levels for the East Side Access Project have yet to be determined for Fiscal Year 2000. The House and Senate transportation conferees are currently meeting to work out project funding earmarks.

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