U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced yesterday that the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee has approved the FY11 Appropriations Bill that includes $450,000 for the College of Staten Island. The funding will be used to initiate investigations into transportation improvement, urban planning, and economic development. Schumer worked closely with members of the Appropriations Committee to include funding for the project in this year’s spending bill.
“The research done at the College of Staten Island will establish a strong foundation for students, researchers, and city officials to build upon,” Schumer said. “The funding will bring leading researchers to Staten Island, enable students to engage in hands-on experience, and provide officials with new insight into economic development. I will fight to see this funding through the full appropriations process.”
“On behalf of the College of Staten Island and The City University of New York, I want to thank Senator Charles Schumer for his tremendous assistance and support in securing key subcommittee approval for our ‘Innovation in Transportation Infrastructure Systems Planning’ project,” said College of Staten Island President Dr. Tomás D. Morales. “Funding for this project will allow CSI to conduct important research and development to address traffic congestion in the New York Metropolitan Region for the benefit of our students, our communities, all of New York City, and beyond.”
This funding will allow researchers at the College of Staten Island to expand their investigations into traffic flow patterns and availability of mass transit systems with the goal of alleviating congestion in the New York Metropolitan Region. Increased understanding of how transportation options impact daily routines will ensure that future transportation investment decisions are made wisely and will have the intended economic and quality of life benefits.
In addition, this project will attract leading researchers in urban planning, economics, and computational science to Staten Island where the HPC is housed. It will also greatly benefit students at CSI, as well as students from the entire University, who will learn how to utilize the HPC’s capabilities to their full potential. This hands-on research experience with leading researchers will better prepare students for their careers, while providing new insights into transportation analysis.
The funding will also provide for the development and application of advanced computational methods to support policymakers on issues related to economic development, infrastructure, and transportation policy. The insights gained by these projects will be applicable to other large and complex urban areas. This increasing knowledge base will further enhance the leadership role of The City University of New York, the College of Staten Island, and the City of New York in urban planning and transportation studies.
Following approval by the Full Committee and the Senate, the bill will move toward Conference with the House and then to the President for signature.
For full details visit the Senator’s Web page.
