With the new Tappan Zee Bridge as a backdrop, President Barack Obama joined Governor Andrew Cuomo in Westchester on Wednesday to discuss the importance of investing to repair the nation’s aging infrastructure.
Speaking in front of the span in Tarrytown, the president says the nation’s business economy could tank if lawmakers do not increase spending on projects.
Obama pointed to the Tappan Zee Bridge to highlight the importance of updating the nations roads, ports and bridges.
The bridge is currently getting a $ 4 billion facelift.
And while normally the repairs would take as much as five years, the president says he has put the project in the fast track.
It’s expected to be complete in a year and a half.
The president says there are steps that lawmakers can take to make sure these types of improvements are happening across the country.
“We’re cutting bureaucratic red tape that stalls good projects from breaking ground,” said Obama. “We’re opening a new national permitting center to implement these reforms. We are aiming to put every infrastructure project on a public dashboard so that you can track our progress, hold us accountable, make sure things are coming in on time and on budget.”
Obama criticized Republicans for their recent opposition to public works projects.
He says if Congress doesn’t act soon, federal funding for infrastructure improvement projects will dry up.
Following his remarks in Westchester, President Obama headed to Manhattan to headline a pair of Democratic fundraisers this evening.
He and the First Lady will spend the night in Manhattan before attending tomorrow’s dedication of the National September 11th Memorial and Museum.
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