Public hearing on transporation project

BUFFALO, NY (WIVB) - The public will get a better understanding of how much of a $25 billion capital plan will go towards this region at a public hearing in Buffalo today in Buffalo.

In March, News 4 exposed cost overuns of the 219 expressway project totaling $30 million.

Senate Dale Volker said, "It's a big problem, I just wish that this thing, obviously I wish this would've never happened."

"This $30 million mess up is really harmful. They shouldn't have put the highway in a place where the land was unstable," added Senator Chuck Schumer.

'What the state Department of Transportation is doing about these types of problems?' and 'Where are public transportation dollars being spent?' are questions the Senate Transportation Chair plans to answer this afternoon.

"Historically our region has received 9% of the New York State funding due to our number of lane miles that we have here in Erie County. Unfortunately in 2008-2009 it's 4.4% - less than half what we normally receive," explained Ed Rath of the Erie County Legislature.

Next year the Department of Transportation will begin a $25 billion capital improvement project to fix and rehabilitate highways, bridges and support public transportation.

The project will take 5 years to complete.

Meanwhile, many local contractors says this region has been neglected over the years.

In September County Executive Chris Collins claimed the State DOT shorted this region some $75 million in state aid and another $30 million in Federal stimulus funds.

"We saw where the allegiance was when push came to shove and it wasn't to the taxpayers of Western New York, it was to the special interests downstate. You've heard me talking about this for a long time, this just confirms it. One party rule in this state is what's causing this problem," said Collins.

The only local hearing on the 5-year plan is this afternoon at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society on Elmwood and Nottingham, from Noon to 4 p.m.