Letter to Executive Director Ettinger

Letter

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand and Representatives Joe Crowley and Jose Serrano today announced that the New York Metropolitan Transit Council (NYMTC) has given its final stamp of approval to $25 million in federal funding intended for the Hunts Point Project. The funds, made possible through the extension of the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program that Schumer, Gillibrand, Crowley and Serrano helped pass in the new transportation bill, needed to be included by the NYMTC in its Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) if it is to become available for Hunts Point in 2013. Responding to the calls of the elected officials, NYMTC has approved this grant in order to help New York City reach its goal of $160 million in public funding to redevelop Hunts Point.

"Hunts Point is the epicenter of New York's dynamic food industry and investing in the infrastructure to modernize and grow this unique operation is essential for the region's economy and the countless workers connected to it. With this funding, we've finally gotten New York City to the finish line in order to meet its public funding goals for the Hunts Point project -- and all we needed was final sign off," said Schumer. "The New York City Metropolitan Transit Council has stepped up to the plate and approved this funding that pushes us past the $160 million goal."

"These federal funds are an important step forward towards revitalizing Hunts Point and making long overdue infrastructure upgrades at the country's largest food distribution center," said Senator Gillibrand. "This investment to modernize an important food distribution hub in the Bronx will provide long-term economic benefits to the entire city."

"I am thrilled the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council recognized the importance of this federal funding and approved this project," said Rep. Joe Crowley (Queens, the Bronx). "The Hunts Point Market has played a pivotal role in New York's economy for more than four decades, providing local jobs and supporting farmers throughout the state. The plan to modernize this essential food distribution center will bring even more economic benefits to the Bronx, New York City, and the state. With this approval, we are now one step closer to the dream of a revitalized Hunts Point."

"This is an important step in ensuring the long term future of the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center," said Congressman Serrano. "This money will help create jobs and improve the quality of life for community residents. I thank the New York Metropolitan Transit Council for including the Hunts Point project in their Transportation Improvement Program."

The $320 million Hunts Point Project, inaugurated by New York City in 2003, aims to redevelop the Hunts Point peninsula in the South Bronx in order to optimize land use, create local employment opportunities, update area infrastructure, and improve traffic safety and efficiency. With the help of the Hunts Point Vision Plan Task Force, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has formulated goals to meet the needs of the approximately 12,000 Hunts Point residents and the wider area. The project in particular aims to renovate and further develop the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center at Hunts Point. The center, which includes the Terminal Produce Market, the Cooperative Meat Market, and the New Fulton Fish Market, is made up of 55 public and private wholesalers, and generates more than $3 billion in sales annually.

Schumer served on the Conference Committee of Senate and House members that were charged with developing a final transportation bill. The final bill included an extension of the Department of Transportation's Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program. The program provides funding to State DOTs and metropolitan planning organizations, and their project sponsors a growing variety of transportation-environmental projects. This federal grant represents the final piece of a $160 million puzzle of public funds the City wished to provide the Hunts Point project -- but the funds could not be used for the project until the NYMTC gave its final approval to the project.

Today, Schumer, Gillibrand, Crowley and Serrano announced the NYMTC has included funds within the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and the project can now continue. The TIP is a list of all proposed New York City projects (or project phases) to receive federal funding that are scheduled to begin in the next four years.

A copy of their original letter, from August, is below:

Dear Executive Director Ettinger,

We write to you today in regards to the major Hunts Point redevelopment project and to ask for your assistance in matters related to this exciting initiative. The $320 million Hunts Point Project, inaugurated by New York City in 2003, aims to redevelop the Hunts Point peninsula in the South Bronx in order to optimize land use, create local employment opportunities, update area infrastructure, and improve traffic safety and efficiency. With the help of the Hunts Point Vision Plan Task Force, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has formulated goals to meet the needs of the approximately 12,000 Hunts Point residents and the wider area.

The project in particular aims to renovate and further develop the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center at Hunts Point. The center, which includes the Terminal Produce Market, the Cooperative Meat Market, and the New Fulton Fish Market, is made up of 55 public and private wholesalers, and generates more than $3 billion in sales annually. It is our belief that this project will spur economic development on the Hunts Point peninsula and in the greater South Bronx and New York City area.

The recent federal transportation bill included an extension of the Department of Transportation's Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program. The program provides funding to State DOTs and metropolitan planning organizations, and their project sponsors for a growing variety of transportation-environmental projects. $25 million in CMAQ funding has been granted to pursue the Hunts Point project. This federal grant represents the final piece of a $160 million puzzle of public funds the City wished to provide the Hunts Point project -- but the funds cannot be used for the project until the NYMTC gives final approval to the project

As you know, the New York Metropolitan Transit Council (NYMTC)'s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a list of all proposed New York City projects to receive federal funding that are scheduled to begin in the next four years. If the $25 million from the transportation bill is not incorporated in the TIP schedule, the City will not be able to make use of the important funds that have already been set aside for the redevelopment of Hunts Point. With the major benefits this project promises to bring to Hunts Point in mind, we urge the members of the council to vote to include this project so that the $25 million in federal funds so that the long-awaited project can finally move forward.

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