**For Immediate Release**

December 18, 2023

Summer Lee, Deluzio, Casey, Fetterman Secure $142.34 Million for Pittsburgh’s Parkway East

Lee has advocated tirelessly for grant to make significant safety improvements to I-376 and MLK Jr. Busway

100,000 daily travelers on the two arteries will see upgrades including bridge rehab, flood mitigation, traffic congestion reduction

New floodwall will finally drain “the Bathtub” in downtown Pittsburgh

Parkway among most congested roads in the United States

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12) and U.S. Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) along with Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA secured $142,342,200 in funding to make major safety improvements to the I-376 (Parkway East) and the Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway, including the flood-prone “Bathtub” downtown. Since taking office, Lee has worked tirelessly to push the US Department of Transportation (DOT) – meeting with the agency regularly – to award this funding. 

Congresswoman Summer Lee said, “I am so excited to announce that we’re delivering $142 million to make the I-376 corridor less congested, faster, and safer for drivers, transit users, and pedestrians alike. Not only will this massive investment in one of Pittsburgh’s most congested roads, bridges, and highway strips make it easier for all folks to get where they need to go, but it will create more than 2,500 jobs, add $254.9 million to our economy, protect against flood damage, prevent hundreds of crashes each year, and help right the wrongs of disinvestment and disconnection in left behind communities. After months of advocating tirelessly and meeting regularly with DOT, I’m so proud that Pittsburgh is receiving the investment we need to make life better for ALL families and small businesses across Western PA.”

“I am proud to help deliver $142 million to upgrade the Parkway East and the MLK East Busway. This investment will improve traffic, flooding, and safety in our region,” said Rep. Chris Deluzio. “Areas in Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District like Wilkinsburg, Swissvale, Edgewood, Forest Hills, Penn Hills, Churchill, and Braddock Hills are going to benefit directly from this Infrastructure Law investment, and that’s great news for the people of Western PA.”

“Thanks to the infrastructure law, two of Allegheny County’s most heavily-traveled roadways will become safer and easier to navigate,” said Senator Casey. “The Parkway East and the MLK Busway allow people from Monroeville to Oakland—including many in historically marginalized communities—to travel downtown and points throughout the region. I fought for this generational investment in one of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s busiest and most important corridors to keep residents, commuters, and visitors safe and improve quality of life and transportation options for all who rely on it to reach their destination.”

“The award of this grant is the culmination of hard work by many in our region,” said DJ Ryan, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Policy at the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. “From our team members that proactively sought out this funding to our County Executive and our members of Congress that advocated for this project, we are grateful for the robust support that we’ve received. Once completed, the Eastern Pittsburgh Multimodal Corridor Project will directly benefit the lives of many individuals—streamlining travel routes, enhancing safety, and increasing access for those that live in our region’s eastern communities.” 

A 2019 study rated the parkway as the fifth most congested road in the United States. This multimodal project will make significant progress to ameliorate that congestion and the corridor’s safety hazards. The myriad upgrades include rehabilitating 10 bridges, installing a new floodwall along the downtown section of the parkway so flood-prone it is known as “the Bathtub,” implementing technologies to ease traffic from Monroeville to downtown, and stabilizing hilly terrain to prevent landslides. In addition to traffic, flooding, bridges, and potentially unstable terrain, the $142.34 million award will improve bus infrastructure, shoulder and sidewalk safety, and key stretches of South Braddock Avenue and Route 30/Lincoln Highway/Ardmore Boulevard.

Since taking office in January, Lee, who serves on the House Oversight Committee and Space, Science and Technology Committee, has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling nearly $1 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $200 million for infrastructure, over $50 million for affordable transit, and over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 1,380 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.

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