Letter to Anthony Fox, Secretary of the Department of Transportation

Letter

Dear Secretary Foxx:

I am pleased to write in support of Broome County Office of Energy Development's application under the Federal Transportation Administration's Ladders of Opportunity Initiative.

With around 200,000 residents, Broome County is the largest county in New York's Southern Tier. It is home to two schools within the State University of New York (SUNY) system: Binghamton University and SUNY Broome. The students and local residents rely on the bus system and other public infrastructure to get to vital services such as healthcare and shopping needs. Additionally, Broome's transit system provides countless economic opportunities as it is the gateway to educational and training centers and potential employers for many of the County's low income and disadvantaged individuals.

This funding will enable Broome County to improve service to its residents with the purchase of 10 new clean diesel buses and the installation of 9 new bike shelters. As many residents depend on public transportation, improving transit in the county would mean continuity for economic development. Not only are many of the current buses beyond their useful life, they are also pre-compliance diesel powered. The funding for these buses and bike shelters will not only increase the county's already exceptional service to its residents, it will do so in an environmentally friendly manner. I applaud Broome County in its foresight and hope this application meets with your approval.

Thank you for your consideration. For additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me or my grants director.

Sincerely,

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer

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