How will the massive trillion dollar infrastructure package help the local labor force and transit services? Greg Lancette is the President of the Central & Northern New York Building & Construction Trades Council. As the infrastructure projects are built, he says it’ll bring economic stability and the workforce will want to stay here. AFL-CIO President, Anne Marie Taliercio says the federal dollars will extend to many more workers beyond the construction sites.
“What’s happened here today is the middle class that we all strive to get up to or stay a part of is now secured through that many more workers. Because when the economy does good, people go to work.”
CENTRO has been awarded a $74 million grant and another $8 billion to the State could lead to the development of a Bus Rapid Transit system in Syracuse. CEO Brian Schultz says the money will help the transportation authority with capital projects and to purchase a larger fleet of buses.
“What we’re trying to implement, we’re going to have to purchase more buses, bus shelters, landings. There’s significant costs there. And this is going to help us defray that.”
The federal infrastructure package also will bring significant money to Amtrack. Congress-member John Katko helped develop the infrastructure bill’s framework. He says he voted in favor of it because Central New Yorkers have many concerns like the condition of roadways and the quality of their drinking water. New York Governor Kathy Hochul is expected to be at the White House when President signs the huge spending package.