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June 15, 2010


Hon. Kirsten E. Gillibrand
Larkin At Exchange
726 Exchange Street, Suite 511
Buffalo, New York 14210

Dear Senator Gillibrand:

On behalf of the 2,500 employer members of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, I urge you to strongly support Continental 1’s funding request to the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) for the Route 219 Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). The funding requested is critical to the completion of Continental 1 – a transportation project that has the potential to generate economic growth and boost private sector investment in communities from Toronto, Ontario to Miami, Florida.

Considering Buffalo Niagara’s strategic location on the border of the world’s two largest trading partners, the continued development of the Continental 1 Travel and Trade Corridor is an economic opportunity that will help our region capitalize on its position as a gateway for more than 30% of the $7 trillion annual U.S. export business that flows through the Continental 1 corridor.

The proposed four-lane highway, which would cross the lines of two major U.S. rail carriers and fourteen east-west interstate highways, enhances Buffalo Niagara’s appeal as a logistics hub by dramatically extending its road feeder system. This improved and efficient infrastructure system would stretch from Toronto to Miami offering vital linkage to all East coast metro centers, air and marine ports.

Route 219 is crucial part of the project – upon completion; it will serve as our region’s sole North-South intermodal connection to the C-1 Travel and Trade Corridor. However, construction on the final six sections of the highway is currently stalled until adequate funding is received for the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.

As you know, logistics has been identified as a target industry cluster in Buffalo Niagara, primed for growth in private sector investment and job creation. Continental 1 would be a catalyst for our bi-national regional economy and I urge you to request that the NYSDOT immediately fund the Route 219 SEIS so Continental 1 can advance to the next stage of its development.

Sincerely,

Andrew J. Rudnick

cc.     Chris Hauser, President, Continental One
          Phil Scherer, Executive Director, Continental One