BUFFALO, N.Y. — Western New York State Senator Tim Kennedy says he will push for a statewide, transportation bond act to address New York’s sagging infrastructure.
Kennedy, a democrat from South Buffalo, is in the early stages of putting together his proposal.
"My goal is to advance a robust spending package that would ultimately ensure that our roads and our bridges and our infrastructure are invested in appropriately," Kennedy told WGRZ-TV.
With the state of New York facing a $6 billion budget deficit, Kennedy believes borrowing the money may be the best way to address transportation infrastructure needs.
"I believe that one of the things we should look at is a Transportation Bond Act. We haven't had a bond act in the state of New York for transportation needs since 2005. My goal would be to advance a department of transportation five year capitol plan of upwards of more than $30 billion dollars,” Kennedy said.
However, getting the money - which would involve convincing voters to approve of such a bond act at the ballot box - would be only part of his goal.
Meeting the rest of it, involves his position as a member of the majority party in the NY State Senate, where Kennedy serves as the chair of its Transportation Committee.
"The infrastructure needs are many across the state of New York but especially here in Western New York,” said Kennedy. “We have to ensure that there is equitable distribution of that funding, that there is parity among communities, and that (DOT) Region 5 which encompasses Western new York gets our fair share.”