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Rep. Mannion urges restoration of rescinded I-81 and Reconnecting Communities funding
Summary
Representative Mannion told the THUD subcommittee that rescissions removed $30 million earmarked for Syracuse’s I-81 project and about $2.4 billion nationwide, and he asked lawmakers to increase funding for DOT’s Reconnecting Communities program and prioritize projects harmed by last year’s cuts.
Representative Mannion (Rep. Mannion) told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development that replacing the I-81 viaduct above Syracuse’s Old 15th Ward remains a major regional priority and that recent federal rescissions have undermined progress on that work.
Mannion said the U.S. Department of Transportation had previously committed $180 million to the project, with $30 million reserved for remaining work within the city of Syracuse, but that “in the reconciliation bill that passed last year, $30 million in funding was abruptly rescinded and about 2.4 billion was rescinded for the entire program.” He urged the subcommittee to restore funding and to “recognize the harm done by these cuts and help strengthen funding for highway infrastructure improvements across the board.”
Mannion framed the I-81 project as part of a broader set of Reconnecting Communities efforts, saying the replacement of the viaduct with a street-level community grid would improve opportunity and quality of life for residents of the Old 15th Ward and beyond. He specifically requested increased FY2027 funding for the DOT Reconnecting Communities program and asked the subcommittee to consider language prioritizing projects impacted by last year’s rescissions or those that can demonstrate significant progress and community need.
He also voiced support for HUD programs, including the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the Community Development Block Grant and HUD fair-housing efforts, saying those tools are “critical for addressing a wide range of affordable housing needs.”
The subcommittee did not take a vote during this member-day testimony. Mannion’s full written remarks were entered into the hearing record.
