Press Releases
11/28/2016
Gov. Malloy Statement on Nomination of Elaine Chao as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today released the following statement regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Elaine Chao to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation:“The health of our nation’s transportation system is integral to our economic prosperity. We need a strong leader and partner at the helm of the federal Department of Transportation who understands the importance our infrastructure to the vitality of our communities and industries,” Governor Malloy said. “Secretary Chao’s considerable experience as Deputy Secretary of Transportation and as Secretary of Labor is encouraging and we look forward to working with her should she be confirmed.”
Under Governor Malloy, Connecticut has developed and implemented a transportation infrastructure investment plan with a clear vision for the next 30 years. In his “Let’s Go CT!” program – a 30-year, $100 billion vision for transportation investment – Governor Malloy has laid out a clear strategy for addressing the state’s long-term transportation needs. Connecticut’s connections to New York City and Boston, to the New England and mid-Atlantic states, and to the global economy are entirely dependent on our ability to move people, goods, and communication networks throughout the state safely and efficiently.
Connecticut and the rest of the country face a crisis in the form of deferred investment in our highways, bridges, bus and rail systems. President-elect Trump has spoken about enhancing the investment in America’s transportation infrastructure, although his focus has been strictly on the highway side, with little attention to public transportation or investments in high-speed rail – in particular along the highly traveled Northeast Corridor. His suggestion to use private-sector financing without a plan for long-term federal funding for the purposes of rebuilding roads and bridges raises serious questions that will need a very thorough examination. With dwindling revenues from the gas tax, America needs creative, long-term funding solutions if we are to maintain significant investments and keep our systems in a state of good repair.
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