Schumer, Clinton Secure $1.5 Million For Syracuse Connective Corridor Project

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced that the United States Senate approved $1.5 million for the Syracuse University Connective Corridor project. The funds are included in the FY2006 Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill, which passed the full Senate last night and will now go to a joint HouseSenate conference committee.

This great news for Syracuse and all of Central New York, Schumer said. Strengthening the links between Syracuse University and downtown is a winwin for all Central New Yorkers. The University gets to tap into great community resources, and the City benefits from the Universitys energy and ingenuity. Integrating the University with downtown can only mean economic growth, greater support for the arts and sciences, and a stronger sense of community.

"The Connective Corridor development efforts continue to go from strength to strength and these funds can only add to the progress already being made. I am a pleased that we can continue to support this project because it holds such promise for economic development and growth downtown. This is one of the cornerstones of Syracuse's vision for the city center and the Senate's approval of these funds is a positive sign. We will continue to fight for these funds and ensure that they remain in the final version of the transportation bill that is passed by Congress," Senator Clinton said.

The 2.2mile Connective Corridor bus route will operate twentyfour hours a day, seven days a week, and will bring riders to arts and cultural locations including Syracuse Stage, the Everson Museum, the Museum of Science and Technology, the Civic Center, and the Landmark Theater. It is projected that the route will accommodate 225,000 riders per year. The bus route will run twentyfour hours a day, seven days a week and will accommodate 500 student riders, over 65 faculty members, and numerous community riders each day, with an estimated 225,000 riders per year. Federal funding will be used to support the bus route.

The Connective Corridor project is part of Syracuse Universitys efforts to refocus and revitalize its commitment to Central New York and downtown Syracuse. As part of this realignment of resources, SU recently announced the acquisition and lease of eleven offcampus buildings in downtown Syracuse including the former Dunk and Bright warehouse building.

This funding is in addition to the $8 million the Senators secured in this years transportation reauthorization bill.