Building Central New Yorks

Future
Making Smart Investments in Infrastructure
That Strengthen Our Economy
and the Middle Class
Central New York is the best place to live, work, raise a family, and open a business due in large part to
its rich resources, quality of living, and geographic location. Our community has access to some of the
cleanest water in the country and offers an abundance of parks, trails and scenic landscape. Our region
also benefts from a network of highways and bridges that facilitate travel between our urban, suburban,
and rural communities, whether commuting for work or traveling for pleasure.
Despite these advantages, the lack of maintenance and investment in our structural framework has
affected our regions ability to grow and thrive at the pace it could. Our infrastructure challenges include
crumbling roads and bridges, lack of access to high-speed internet in some of our communities,
decaying water infrastructure, and the need for more effcient freight and passenger transportation
options into and out of Central New York.
Over the past few months, I have met with stakeholders from across the region to discuss our collective
challenges, as well as the unique obstacles facing individual communities. If we want to grow our
economy and create jobs, we need to get serious about making important investments in our
infrastructure. By partnering with each other and working together, we can ensure that Central
New York maintains the standard of living it offers while also remaining competitive by meeting the
needs of its residents.
The information contained in this report is an account of what individuals who participated in the
Infrastructure Roundtable events told me about what we can do to build on our strengths and keep
Central New York moving forward.
Sincerely,
Representative Dan Maffei
Building Central New Yorks Future
Representative
Dan Maffei
Making Smart Investments in Infrastructure
That Strengthen Our Economy and the Middle Class
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Representative Dan Maffei | Building Central New Yorks Future
I. Overview
Infrastructure is an often overlooked factor in its affect on our quality of life, including economic
development in our region. If we want to strengthen the middle class and create jobs in our area,
we need to have the resources and delivery systems in place to meet the needs of businesses in
our community, including water, transportation, bridges and roadways, and high-speed internet
access for all. The strength of our region is largely due to our high-quality standard of living,
which includes consistent access to clean water, a reliable energy grid, an ease of transportation
with little to no traffc congestion, and abundant beautiful natural resources, including our lakes
and parks for recreation. We need to protect and expand on these assets, which requires an
investment in our infrastructure. Through thoughtful discussion, strong partnerships, and a
commonsense approach, we can ensure that our community remains a place where every Central
New Yorker has a fair shot at a quality of life like none other.
Rep. Maffei hosts an Infrastructure Roundtable at
the Port of Oswego with local offcials and
stakeholders from Oswego County.
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Representative Dan Maffei | Building Central New Yorks Future
II. Review
TIMELINE:
December 2012: Letter to President Obama
Prior to taking offce, Rep. Maffei sends a letter to
President Obama urging him to invest in critical
infrastructure and transportation to help boost Central
New Yorks economy and drive local job creation.

January to March 2013: District-wide listening
tour focused on job creation Rep. Maffei kicks-off
a district-wide listening tour by convening a roundtable
meeting with Central New York economic development
leaders, business owners, local elected offcials, and
others in Onondaga County to discuss their ideas to create
jobs and work together to grow the regions economy. He
holds similar events in Cayuga, Oswego, and Wayne
Counties to hear directly from job creators on how to make Central New York a more competitive place to
do business and how to help them expand and create more jobs.
April 10th, 2013: Meeting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rep. Maffei meets with the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide an overview of Army Corps projects in the district.
May 23rd, 2013: Dredging for Little Sodus Bay In Cayuga County, Rep. Maffei announces that the
Army Corps of Engineers will dredge Little Sodus Bay harbor as part of relief efforts to restore damage
following Superstorm Sandy.
May 30th, 2013: Letter to The Post-Standard on I-81 In a letter published in the Post-Standard,
Rep. Maffei shares his thoughts on the future of I-81 and how important the decision will be for Central
New Yorks economy.
May 31st, 2013: Press Conference on I-81 Rep. Maffei discusses the options for revitalizing I-81
and calls on the New York State Department of Transportation to expand its proposals for the future of the
Syracuse portion of the highway.
July 1st, 2013: Journey Along the Erie Canal Rep. Maffei participates in a press conference and
ribbon cutting for a new pedestrian bridge in Fayetteville, New York.
July 3rd, 2013: Visit to Hancock Airport & Meeting with Air Traffc Controllers
Rep. Maffei meets with Air Traffc Controllers at Hancock International Airport in Syracuse.
July 31st, 2013: Grant Award for Syracuse Hancock Airport Rep. Dan Maffei and Syracuse
Mayor Stephanie Miner announce a $4.5 million grant to fund the construction of a new remain overnight
apron and a new taxiway at Hancock Airport to help keep fights on time.
Rep. Maffei discusses the future of I-81 at a
press conference in Syracuse.
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Representative Dan Maffei | Building Central New Yorks Future
August 7th, 2013: Tour of the Port of Oswego Rep. Maffei and Rep. Richard Hanna (R-Barneveld)
tour the Port of Oswego and discuss ways to improve this important Central New York resource. Together,
Reps. Maffei and Hanna announce a renewed effort to pass a strong Water Resources Development Act and
bring critical support and infrastructure improvements to Central New York ports and the Great Lakes
region.
August 23rd, 2013: Grant Award for Oswego County Airport Rep. Maffei announces $1.5
million in grant awards for the Oswego County Airport to acquire aircraft deicing equipment and upgrade
taxiways, lighting, and wiring throughout the airport.
October 22nd, 2013: Grant Award for the Port of Oswego Rep. Maffei and Rep. Hanna announce
a $192,000 federal grant for the Port of Oswego to construct a rail spur and additional rail car storage to
help accommodate the demands of increased rail traffc to the port.
February 18th, 2014: Onondaga County Infrastructure Roundtable Community leaders and
stakeholders gather at the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse to discuss infrastructure in Onondaga County at
a roundtable convened by Rep. Maffei.
February 18th, 2014: Rural Broadband Symposium Rep. Maffei hosts a symposium with local
and state offcials, rural broadband experts, telecommunications executives, and other key stakeholders to
discuss ways to expand rural broadband access. This rural broadband symposium, which was included as a
recommendation in Rep. Maffeis education plan, builds on Rep. Maffeis work to strengthen the middle
class and expand economic opportunities in Central New York.
February 28th, 2014: Infrastructure Survey Released Rep. Maffei releases a survey to residents
and businesses across Central New York to solicit their input on the challenges facing local infrastructure
and ideas to improve the structural framework that supports our local communities. Over 450 people
respond to the survey.
March 1st, 2014: Visit Cayuga County Digester Rep. Maffei tours the Cayuga Regional Digester,
which breaks down biodegradable material to produce fuels as part of a regional renewable energy strategy.
March 1st, 2014: Cayuga County Infrastructure Roundtable Rep. Maffei meets with local
offcials and other stakeholders to discuss infrastructure in Cayuga County.
April 15th, 2014: Fair Haven Sewer Project Rep. Maffei joins local leaders to celebrate the
completion of the Fair Haven sewer project in Cayuga County. During Rep. Maffeis frst term, he worked
with local leaders to push for critical funding for this important project.
April 24th, 2014: Cayuga County Economic Development Agency Luncheon Rep. Maffei
speaks to a group of business leaders about ways to improve the economy in Central New York, including
infrastructure development.
April 24th, 2014: Oswego County Infrastructure Roundtable Rep. Maffei hosts a roundtable on
infrastructure at the Port of Oswego with local Oswego County offcials, university representatives, and
business owners.
June 5th, 2014: Grant Award for Syracuse Hancock Airport Rep. Maffei and Syracuse Mayor
Stephanie Miner announce over $1.8 million in federal funding for the construction of a new building to
house and protect snow removal equipment.
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Representative Dan Maffei | Building Central New Yorks Future
III. Infrastructure
Rep. Maffeis Account From The Infrastructure Listening Tour Events
A. Making Infrastructure a Priority
B. Protecting and Promoting What We Have
C. Smart Infrastructure Investments
D. Incentivizing Collaboration Among Municipalities
A. MAKING INFRASTRUCTURE A PRIORITY
One of the challenges we have as a country is public attention and support
for maintaining our infrastructure. We hit the switch and the lights come
on, we fush and the waste goes away, we open the tap and out comes
water and wonder of wonders we expect that we can actually drink it. We
take our infrastructure largely for granted. Unfortunately, long term, we
cant expect to have the same standard of living if we dont start investing
adequately in our infrastructure. Orrin B. Mac MacMurray, C&S Companies
One theme that emerged at the beginning of each roundtable discussion was the need for greater
public awareness. Whether the conversation turned to bridges, roadways, the power grid, or
water and sewer systems, it is clear that these systems are often taken for granted. Design,
maintenance, functionality, and safety are all important considerations for our local
infrastructure, but are often ignored unless there is a signifcant interruption or failure.
If we are going to make infrastructure a priority for our region, we must raise awareness of the
essential role these networks play in our daily lives. Many of us are familiar with the
inconvenience of a detour during our morning commute, and despite our minor frustrations, we
always remain certain that the closure is only temporary. A large section of our community,
particularly in our urban communities, knows
the havoc a harsh winter can wreak on our
sewers and water mains. Despite the aging
systems, residents remain confdent that the
repairs will be completed and water service
eventually restored.
Rep. Maffei meets with Wayne County stakeholders
at the Wayne County Rural Broadband Symposium.
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Representative Dan Maffei | Building Central New Yorks Future
It is hard to imagine what the effect on our daily lives would be if we no longer had that certainty.
The reality is that with dwindling local resources and a lack of investment from other
government entities, we may be closer to that scenario than we realize. We need to foster an
ongoing dialogue to explore and appreciate these systems that create the quality of life we enjoy
in Central New York.
B. PROTECTING AND PROMOTING WHAT WE HAVE
Time is against us at this point. In the past, when there have been
budgetary concerns, infrastructure was a big ticket item that seemed
easy to back off of, and now weve backed off of it far too long. Now its
going to be diffcult to catch up in a timeframe and in a fscal way thats
manageable. Mark Nicotra, Supervisor of Town of Salina

One of Central New Yorks greatest assets is our access to clean water. There are many parts of
the country that face devastating droughts or must prioritize water consumption due to the
absence of a natural freshwater supply. We are fortunate in Central New York to be surrounded
by abundant water resources that help to defne our region. These include the Finger Lakes,
Oneida Lake, Lake Ontario, and Onondaga Lake, which continues to improve under a robust
redevelopment effort. We enjoy these regional assets for recreation, leisure, and for our drinking
water. Our access to water has also fostered economic development, bringing new industries and
jobs to our area. The regions abundant natural resources create an opportunity for us that few
other areas in the country can offer, and we must devote ourselves to their maintenance and
infrastructure.
Another asset that Central New York has is its geographic location in the region. We are within
driving distance of many metropolitan areas; including New York City, Boston, Washington DC,
Toronto, and Philadelphia, to name a few. That is why Syracuse is often referred to as the
Epicenter of the Northeast. Through targeted investments in transportation infrastructure, we
can capitalize on our proximity to these cities for both business and leisure travel. Large-scale
capital projects such as high-speed rail could open up a world of opportunities to current Central
New York residents while also attracting people who want our quality of life but need easy access
to larger metropolitan areas.
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Representative Dan Maffei | Building Central New Yorks Future
C. SMART INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
Weve all kind of bought into the fact that weve got to bear our
share locally for replacing older infrastructure, but we need some
help. We need some assistance. Marty Aman, Executive Director,
Wayne County Water and Sewer Authority
It is important that we realize the importance of investment, particularly in projects that have a
strong return on investment, as is the case with infrastructure. By deferring these repairs, we not
only discourage economic development and detract from our quality of life, but we create a
situation in which the cost for replacement down the road will far exceed the expense to repair
and modernize now. It is misguided to believe that by abandoning infrastructure, we are saving
money. That may be true in the short term, but the cost only increases the longer we wait.
Roads and Bridges
The Central New York region is an important hub for commerce for the East Coast and beyond.
Unfortunately, our roads and bridges are not equipped to accommodate major economic
expansion and we must do more to ensure that we modernize this important infrastructure. In
the four-county region that comprises the 24th District of New York, the U.S. Department of
Transportation has identifed 340 bridges that are considered defcient. That means that over
one-third of the bridges in this area are in poor condition because of deterioration or need to be
upgraded to safely support traffc. A 2013 study by the American Society of Civil Engineers also
found that 60 percent of the states roads are of poor or mediocre quality.
We must prioritize smart investments to facilitate long-term growth. The efforts to improve
structures like Interstate 81 have a major impact throughout the region. I have been clear
throughout this process that we must fnd a consensus across communities this is truly one of
the most important decisions affecting the future of Central New York. Whatever we decide to
do, we must make sure that we are assessing our economic future and making a real investment
in the project that helps to grow our economy.
During the infrastructure roundtables I hosted throughout the region, business owners and
other community leaders all cited that we must create an environment for long-term economic
growth by updating our regions roads and bridges. Additionally, nearly everyone who responded
to my infrastructure survey reported that they relied on cars for transportation and recognized
the need for federal funding to update our highways. A common theme expressed by the
respondents was that we need to be thoughtful about what we do with I-81 and do what is right
for our region, without relying too heavily on what has been done in other areas.
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Representative Dan Maffei | Building Central New Yorks Future
Airport
The Syracuse Hancock International Airport is vital to Central New Yorks economy and it is
critical we do all we can to modernize and expand this important economic asset. I heard from
many business leaders and experts on infrastructure about the importance of growing air travel
to and from Central New York so that our local business can grow and create more jobs.
Partnering with local leaders like Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, we announced over $6
million in investments to improve air travel in Syracuse last year alone. A number of survey
respondents indicated that they often travel to airports in Rochester or Buffalo to take advantage
of expanded destinations and lower fares. I am committed to working with local partners to
bring our families and business access to affordable and effcient air travel. We must continue to
do all we can to expand this valuable resource.
High-Speed Rail
Our region needs more transportation options like high-speed rail to give local businesses the
ability to travel more effciently across the East Coast. Making smart investments in high-speed
rail makes our community even more attractive for businesses to invest by creating additional,
reliable, and cost-effective transportation. During our infrastructure roundtables, I heard time
and again from business and community leaders about new and innovative approaches to
transportation. While we must make investments locally in our roads and bridges, there was a
lot of discussion on expanding our transportation options. If we make the right decisions around
passenger rail, we can better connect the region with New York City and beyond. In Central New
York, we have major research universities, colleges, medical centers, and other important
businesses.
Additionally, many respondents to our infrastructure
survey indicated that they use rail to travel to New
York City, Buffalo, and destinations in between.
The common complaint was that the train is too slow
and there are too many delays, making the travel
unreliable. Many also favored upgrades to high-speed
rail, increasing competition among transportation
options and making high-speed rail a more cost
effcient solution for travelers across the region.
Ports
Expanding our local water infrastructure will provide a real boost to our regions economy and
create jobs across Central New York. It is critical that we do more for the Port of Oswego, which
supports thousands of jobs in the region. Working in a bipartisan way with Rep. Richard Hanna
and other partners, we are pushing for important initiatives that will make the right investments
in some of our regions most important economic assets. Just last year, we announced support
Rep. Maffei and Rep. Richard Hanna tour the
Port of Oswego and discuss ways to improve
this important Central New York resource.
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Representative Dan Maffei | Building Central New Yorks Future
for an effort to consolidate the Great Lakes Navigation System to expand the infrastructure
framework at the Port of Oswego and other Great Lakes ports to make trade and commerce
easier domestically and internationally. In addition, we worked together with local partners to
announce a nearly $200,000 competitive grant for the Port of Oswego to accommodate increased
rail traffc in and out of the port. We must do all we can to make the right investments in our
water infrastructure like the Port of Oswego to create new economic opportunities for the region.
We have an asset a public health asset and an economic development
asset that is exceptional in terms of quality, cost and abundance. We
need to get that message out to businesses that could consider Central
New York as a location for their development. Holly Rosenthal,
Executive Director, Onondaga County Metropolitan Water Board
Water and Sewer
In Syracuse and other areas across Central New York, many of our water mains are more than
100 years old. In fact, the City of Syracuse reported over 350 water main breaks in 2013, and
over 150 in just the frst three months of 2014. Aging water infrastructure is a real challenge for
local businesses and communities, and breaks are becoming more and more commonplace. We
must make the right investments to modernize and improve this important resource. Each delay
because of a water main break wastes important taxpayer-funded resources, negatively affects
day-to-day commerce, and hurts the regions ability to attract new employers and create jobs.
Families and businesses alike expect and rely on a dependable, clean water supply every day. We
cannot allow this system to fail and to ensure that, we must invest in the upgrades our region needs.
Technology and Energy Grid Improvements
Discussion around infrastructure is often focused on transportation, but our technology
infrastructure and energy grid deserves attention and investment too. From the jobs discussions
I started in 2013, and the more recent infrastructure roundtables this spring, it became
increasingly clear how important access to high-speed internet and an expansion of broadband
service was across Central New York. I hosted a broadband symposium in Wayne County to
assist rural communities with expanding access and announced with Mayor Miner in Syracuse
the formation of a group to address the citys internet challenges. Expanding the reach and speed
of the internet in communities throughout the region provides us with the tools to grow and
create jobs and provides more educational resources for the regions students.
It is critical that consumers have access to reliable and affordable energy. Numerous business
leaders and other stakeholders discussed the importance of modernizing our existing energy
grid and the infrastructure that supports it. I have been a proponent of updating our energy
infrastructure that serves both businesses and residential communities, because to attract and
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Representative Dan Maffei | Building Central New Yorks Future
keep business, we must keep energy costs low. We must provide the very best service to
consumers across Central New York, and I will continue to advocate for important investment
in this infrastructure.
D. INCENTIVIZING COLLABORATION AMONG MUNICIPALITIES
Our biggest challenge right now is time and the fact is that we dont
have the resources to solve the problem. We need to partner across
communities to fnd real solutions Khalid Bey, Councilor for the
Syracuse Common Council
The challenge of funding is one faced by nearly every local government throughout Central New
York. With fnite resources and shrinking budgets, it is more important than ever to foster
partnerships and collaborate with neighboring municipalities on projects that suit the needs of
both entities. We need to do more to encourage these relationships. Furthermore, we should be
establishing regional partnerships, collaborating with localities, the state, and the federal
government to invest in important infrastructure projects that would be less likely to see
completion without these partners working together.
We also need to work together through public and private partners to ensure we are making the
right infrastructure investments. Partnering among public and private sectors fosters dialogue
on the infrastructure challenges facing the community and makes it easier to prioritize these
important investments. Whether its expanding our broadband infrastructure, fnding real
transportation solutions, or providing important funding for our ports or rail, we must have real
dialogue and work together to prioritize.
Many of the roundtable participants highlighted the need for incentives to create these alliances,
which encourage leaders to put aside the traditional political or personal differences in order to
obtain the resources needed for their respective constituents. The possibilities for collaboration
are endless in infrastructure with regard to transportation, energy alternatives, water and sewer
systems, the list goes on. We need to do whatever we can to encourage partnerships to create
more effcient and effective systems of delivery for these networks.
Its got to be about more than Oswego. Its about reaching out to and
partnering with others in the region. Thats something we can do.
Zelko N. Kirincich, Executive Director, Port of Oswego
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Representative Dan Maffei | Building Central New Yorks Future
IV. Recommendations
A. Making Infrastructure a Priority
B. Protecting and Promoting Our Clean Water Economy
C. Smart Infrastructure Investments
A. MAKING INFRASTRUCTURE A PRIORITY
Investing in infrastructure not only improves the
public goods we use every day, but data shows that
investment in infrastructure creates jobs and
strengthens the economy. A recent Standard &
Poors analysis of U.S. infrastructure investments
found that an investment of $1.3 billion in 2015
would create approximately 29,000 jobs to the
construction sector alone, grow the economy by $2
billion, and reduce the defcit by $200 million in
that year alone. Another study conducted by the
Federal Highway Administration in 2007 found that
a $1 billion investment in the nations highway system supported nearly 30,000 jobs. This is
why I will continue to make infrastructure a priority, as I have done with infrastructure
roundtables and by soliciting feedback through outreach and a survey on infrastructure. These
are some of the most important investments we can make in our region to create good jobs today
and in the future.
Across Central New York and the nation, there are thousands of infrastructure projects in need
of funding. That is why I strongly support the creation of a National Infrastructure Development
Bank. I am a cosponsor of legislation that would create a public bank to evaluate and fund
infrastructure projects of national or regional signifcance. The bank would use public
investment to leverage more private investment to support environmental, energy,
transportation, and telecommunications projects. I will renew efforts to push for the creation of
a National Infrastructure Development Bank, which has been touted as a bipartisan idea to fund
critical infrastructure projects. B. PROTECTING AND PROMOTING OUR CLEAN WAT
B. PROTECTING AND PROMOTING OUR CLEAN WATER ECONOMY
Our natural water resources support tourism, wineries, and thousands of jobs across Central
New York. Onondaga Lake is an example of a regional asset we need to continue to protect and
promote. That is why I am working on plans to continue the cleanup and preservation of the lake
for generations to come by developing a strategy for management and restoration, working to
Rep. Maffei joins the Cayuga Economic
Development Agency for their Annual Luncheon.
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Representative Dan Maffei | Building Central New Yorks Future
include the publics participation in the lakes future, and establishing a council to carry out
plans for the continued improvement of the lake for everyone.
In our region we fght a constant battle to preserve our clean waters by fghting against pollution
and invasive species. In the House of Representatives, I support legislation to regulate polluters
and protect our environment and our clean water economy. New York has a state moratorium on
hydro-fracking, which we should continue to support at least until we know that the practice is
safe for our water and it is subject to federal regulations.
C. SMART INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
Making smart investments in our regions infrastructure not only creates construction jobs, but
supports local businesses that rely on our roads, ports, airports, water, energy and technology
infrastructure to produce and distribute their goods. These investments generate signifcant
economic activity that benefts us all.
To protect the publics investment in infrastructure, I propose creating a contractor penalty
box for companies that have a track record of running over budget and past deadlines with
federal contracts, including infrastructure contracts. Under this plan, contractors that exceed
their original bid by an excessive amount would be put in a penalty box and not allowed to
compete on any federal projects for a period of time, ensuring that taxpayers get what they pay
for with federal investments.
There is more that we can do to support infrastructure in our region:
Roads and Bridges
As our community is aware, the elevated portion of I-81 (also known as the viaduct) that runs
through downtown Syracuse will reach the end of its useful life in 2017. Something will have to
be done to replace this stretch of highway and options include but are not limited to converting it
to a boulevard, creating a tunnel, or keeping it the same. What to do about I-81 is one of the
biggest decisions affecting the future of Central New York. This decision must be made by the
people in Greater Syracuse, not by offcials in Albany or Washington. That is why everyone who
has a stake in I-81 should make their voices heard during this process. People can start by
attending public forums, visiting the Outreach Center in Downtown Syracuse, or by providing
comments online at https://www.dot.ny.gov/i81opportunities. Whatever happens, we will live
with this choice for generations to come, so we should all be active participants in this decision-
making process.
Airport
Our airport is a valuable resource to our region and I will continue to work to support
improvements in the facility and fight options. I have worked with local stakeholders to secure
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Representative Dan Maffei | Building Central New Yorks Future
funding to expand service and lower costs at Hancock International Airport. However, it is clear
that we need another discount airline to help keep the cost of air travel into and out of the area
down while opening up the region to visitors from across the country. Frequent, low-cost air
travel will help give businesses more affordable travel options so they can fy technicians and
managers into and out of the region and expand their businesses to new markets. Lower cost air
travel options to Central New York will also expand the regions growing tourism economy. I will
continue to work with the airport and local offcials to help attract more air travel options and
support improvements to the existing airport infrastructure to improve service and reliability.
High-Speed Rail
It is clear there is demand for high-speed rail in Central New York. Upstate New York has been
designated as a corridor for high-speed rail by the federal government. This makes Upstate New
York eligible for federal aid to improve rail travel from Niagara Falls to New York City. The state
is currently evaluating options, and I will continue to support this needed federal investment to
expand reliable passenger service across our area. According to one estimate, this investment
could generate over $1 billion in new wages and create 21,000 new jobs across New York State.
Ports
The Port of Oswego is an important economic engine for our region, handling over a million tons
of freight annually, so we must continue to advocate for its fair share of funds for dredging and
improvements. We can do more to enhance the Port of Oswego by supporting the creation of an
intermodal Erie Canal that would transform Central New York into a hub for global commerce.
The Central New York Inland Port project would capitalize on the increased cargo shipments to
the East Coast after the Panama Canals expansion. After the expansion, more goods will fow
through East Coast ports, and the most effcient way to move goods west is still through Central
New York. Thats why I have advocated for improvements to the Central New York Inland Port
Trade Corridor, which provides promising economic benefts for agriculture, energy, and
manufacturing industries that want to open and expand their markets through exports.
We have infrastructure already in place, including the canal, Port of Oswego, an international
airport equipped for air freight, direct access to two interstate highways, and existing active
freight rail lines and rail yards. It is a logistical project that makes sense for our region that I will
continue to push for, in addition for more funding for infrastructure improvements at the
existing Port of Oswego.
Water and Sewer
Making smart investments in our water and sewer systems must be a high priority since our
region has an expanding clean water economy with farming, wine-making, tourism and high-
tech manufacturing that all beneft from the abundance of clean, fresh water we have. Our
region needs immediate investments to repair and upgrade our existing water infrastructure, but
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Representative Dan Maffei | Building Central New Yorks Future
V. Conclusion
By investing in our infrastructure, we are investing
in our future as a region. If we want to grow and
create jobs, we need to get serious about making
important investments in our regions
infrastructure. Central New York is truly the best
place to live, work, raise a family, and retire, but we
must ensure that we make the right infrastructure
investments to grow and create jobs. By making
smart investments in Central New Yorks
infrastructure, we can grow the economy,
strengthen the middle class, and build our future.
Rep. Maffei hosting an Infrastructure
Roundtable in Onondaga County with local
business and community leaders.
TO STAY UPDATED AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO
BUILD CENTRAL NEW YORKS FUTURE,
please visit www.maffei.house.gov
or call my ofce at (315) 423-5657.
our local taxpayers cannot afford the price tag on their own. That is why I propose a series of
water grant workshops to help local governments learn more about how to be competitive and
win grants to help offset the cost of needed repairs.
Technology and Energy Grid Improvements
Internet providers are not public utilities, so we must work together to solve our broadband
access issues. Earlier this year, I hosted a Broadband Symposium in Wayne County where we
learned about successes other Upstate New York communities have had and opportunities to
expand broadband options. I will continue to work to bring communities together to pool their
resources to advocate for broadband expansion. In Syracuse we have partnered together to work
to expand opportunities for broadband deployment in the city. I will continue to support these
efforts to expand access for our schools, businesses, and families.
Furthermore, we must continue to strengthen and improve our energy grid infrastructure. Local
educational institutions in Central New York have already made strides to develop smart grid
programs, initiatives that aim to integrate renewable resources into the grid and increase energy
effciency. We should work to bring together local stakeholders, utilities, and public offcials to
keep costs low and ensure consumers continue to have access to reliable and affordable energy.