Nadler Secures an Additional $3 Billion in Transit Funding in H.R. 1 Share on Facebook Share on X Print this Page Share by Email Washington, DC, January 28, 2009 Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), the Northeast’s senior member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T & I), secured an additional $3 billion in transit funding when his amendment to H.R. 1, the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, passed the House of Representatives. This increases the amount of transit funding in the Plan from $9 billion to $12 billion. Transportation experts, including House T & I Chairman Jim Oberstar, believed that the $9 billion previously included for transit in the bill was insufficient and had recommended $12 billion in order to maintain and improve transit systems nationwide. This $3 billion will create thousands more jobs, protect the environment through green transit projects and improve public transportation across the country. Of the $3 billion increase, $1.5 billion will go toward formula funding to transit agencies and $1.5 billion will be added to the New Starts program. Rep. Nadler organized a broad coalition of legislators and environmental and transportation advocates in order to push this crucial amendment through the House. New York State and California will be the two largest recipients of this transit money, with New York standing to gain a considerable share of the $3 billion increase – some $214 million in formula money and hundreds of millions more for major new projects (possibly including the Second Avenue Subway and the East Side Access tunnel). With the additional funds for New York coming from the $3 billion increase, New York’s grand total in transit funding will likely reach $2 billion. “I am extremely pleased that my amendment to increase transit funding nationwide by $3 billion was approved and passed by my colleagues, and I thank them for their support,” exclaimed Rep. Nadler. “This amendment is crucial for fair distribution of transportation spending between urban and non-urban parts of the county. And the extra $3 billion will be a great boon to New York in particular, providing critical funding for our State’s many important transit projects. Investment in transit is a major step toward putting Americans to work right away in green jobs, reducing emissions and improving our transit systems.” The American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, including the Nadler amendment, will come to a vote on the House floor later today.