News & Views: July 5, 2012

Transportation Bill Gets Congressional Approval
Congress passed a transportation bill last Friday worth over $100 billion, sending the bill to the president’s desk after months of brinksmanship. The massive majorities by which the package passed — 373-52 in the House and 74-19 in the Senate – do not capture the weeks of wrangling ahead of the votes. The bill was in doubt until the last minute, with current transportation policy set to expire. The bill also capped federal student loan interest rates, which were expected to jump on Sunday. And it extended federal flood insurance programs. But the House was able to rush the legislation through after a Thursday night Rules Committee meeting. 
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Growing Chorus of WNY Officials Demanding Governor Act on Reconstruction of I-86
The Cattaraugus County Legislature added its voice to a growing chorus of critics of the Cuomo administration for blocking reconstruction of 11.5 miles of the Southern Tier Expressway.  The latest letter to the governor comes a week after union leaders representing more than 5,000 Western New York construction workers wrote strongly worded letters to Gov. Andrew Cuomo urging him to settle disagreements with the Seneca Nation of Indians and start the $28.5 million reconstruction project. 
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Capital Region: Bridge Improvement Projects Underway
Several local bridge improvement projects are underway as part of the NY Works program.  The State DOT, along with several other local officials, announced details of the nearly $20 million effort on Monday.  Eleven bridges are having some kind of work done over the next year and many of those projects have already begun. None of those bridges have been deemed unsafe, but the work is being done before repairs are necessary. 
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Local History: Plank Roads Were Path to Prosperity
Plank roads were highways constructed of thick wooden boards laid crosswise to the flow of traffic. They were a vast improvement over unpaved roads, which turned to impassable mud in wet weather and were dusty and deeply rutted during dry months. They had proved successful in New York state in the 1840s, so other states soon adopted the idea.  READ MORE >>>