Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday he will ask President Joe Biden to provide $12 billion of funding for the Gateway Tunnel project — and additional billions in an additional infrastructure bill.
Schumer (D-N.Y.), speaking during a video call with the Riders Alliance, said he hopes New York City gets a large chunk of the $20 billion Biden is requesting for mass-transit agencies across the country in his national relief bill.
“We’ve got to build on this success moving forward in the next relief bill, but also as part of a larger paradigm shift toward the priority of mass transit in federal investment,” Schumer said during a call with a group that promotes funding for public transportation in New York City.
Bloomberg was the first to report on the call.
Schumer indicated he feels it’s time to rethink infrastructure — and the money spent on it.
- He said he wants to change the current formula, which usually means Congress allocates 80% of funds to roads and 20% to transit;
- He said he’s asked Secretary of Transportation nominee Pete Buttigieg for guidance on congestion pricing for motorists who still drive into New York City.
“I will introduce an infrastructure recovery package that focuses on transit and other climate friendly modes, but we need a national movement to do this,” Schumer said during the call.
