Jul 25, 2024
Press
Summer Lee Hosts Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, to Announce the Beginning of Building Safety and Traffic Mitigation Improvements to I-376 Bathtub along with Senator Fetterman, Rep. Deluzio, and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato
**For IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
Contact: Emilia.Rowland@mail.house.gov – 330.212.2065
Summer Lee Hosts Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, to Announce the Beginning of Building Safety and Traffic Mitigation Improvements to I-376 Bathtub along with Senator Fetterman, Rep. Deluzio, and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato
(Pittsburgh, PA) – Today, Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12), Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA-17), and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato hosted Secretary Pete Buttigieg to announce incoming improvements to the I-376 bathtub.They discussed the improvements that would be made, such as the massive investment in traffic improvements, including bridge rehabilitation, protection against floods–and talked about how it will improve quality of life in the region.
We all know I-376 Parkway can be a damn pain. But think for a second about the moms and dads among us, who every day face the stress of rush hour, their minds occupied not with the traffic but with the thought of getting home to their kids. This project is for them,” said Rep. Summer Lee. “Imagine this: The Parkway, which many of us know all too well as the 5th most congested road in America, will soon have less traffic, fewer accidents, and will be much more efficient. This funding we are celebrating today is a promise of change and a promise of time – time that belongs to you, your families, and your loved ones.”
“We wouldn’t be here today without the work of this delegation,” Buttigieg said, noting that there are currently 40,000 infrastructure projects across the nation in the pipeline.
Background:
Rep. Lee initially announced the grant with Rep. Deluzio, Senator Casey, and Senator Fetterman on December 18th, 2023 saying;
“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.”
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 over $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 1,600 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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