WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns (NY-10), announced nearly $77 million dollars in Recovery Act funding for the rehabilitation of the 107-year old Atlantic Avenue Viaduct in Brooklyn. The funds, part of a larger $400 million stimulus transit grant, will be used to make vital structural replacements along the route that carries over 25,000 Long Island Railroad (LIRR) customers each week between Jamaica and Downtown Brooklyn.

“I am pleased to see stimulus funds at work here in our community,” said Rep. Towns. “The Atlantic Avenue Viaduct is critical to our local economy because it brings tens of thousands of people to our community every week.  With this project and similar projects, the Obama Administration is demonstrating that the stimulus is working to invest in our community by improving our local infrastructure and, as a result, providing good paying jobs for Brooklynites.”
 
Congressman Towns, in his capacity as Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, announced plans to conduct vigorous oversight of the Recovery Act earlier in the 111th Congress.  Since then, Rep. Towns has conducted hearings across the nation to ensure stimulus dollars reach the towns and cities that need them the most; introduced legislation to help state auditors meet the Recovery Act’s accountability standards; worked with Secretary LaHood to ensure funding for transportation projects reach underserved communities; and he has worked with Vice President Joe Biden to improve the programs main transparency tool, Recovery.gov.

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