Blumenthal Highlights Need for Long-Term, Robust Transportation Investment at Visit to Norwich Transportation Center

(Hartford, CT) - Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) visited Norwich’s Intermodal Transportation Center with Norwich Mayor Deb Hinchey, local business leaders and transit users to discuss the growing demand for local transit services and to highlight the need for long-term, robust transportation investment.

Thursday’s visit comes as Congress debates reauthorization of the Highway Trust Fund. The fund was established in 1956 as a dedicated source of federal funding for highways, and in 1983 it was expanded to include transit programs. The fund has since become the primary funding mechanism for federal highway and transit projects nationwide, financing half of all highway, major bridge and transit work nationwide. Through the fund, the federal government invests $10 billion a year in transit alone.

Congress passed a short two-month extension last week to authorize the fund through July 31. Blumenthal has called for long-term robust investment in transportation infrastructure