SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – President Donald Trump’s proposed ‘big beautiful bill’ could cut $30 million from a federal grant awarded to Central New York.
The money is part of a $180 million award from the U.S. Department of Transportation that would rebuild a neighborhood below the I-81 viaduct in Syracuse after it is torn down. It would pay for things like new streets, parks, bike paths, lighting, pedestrian paths, trees and recreation areas.
The cut is just a small portion of the bill, which cancels $3.3 billion in unspent grant money nationwide.
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said Tuesday that he is against cutting the grant money for reconstruction.
“The program where that $30 million is in is a popular program. There’s other communities throughout the country in blue states, purple states and red states that are in a similar situation that Syracuse is in. So we’ll advocate directly to the majority leader and the minority leader” in the House of Representitives, McMahon said.
The ‘big beautiful bill’ passed through the House late last week and now awaits Senate approval.
McMahon, who also has a hand in the new Micron plant coming to Clay, said the housing included in the neighborhood will be crucial in that project as well.
“We need neighborhoods, we need housing, and we think this could help support what we’re doing here. The federal investment could help complement this,” McMahon said.
The I-81 project is scheduled to be completed in 2028. As of now the grant money is set to be used when road construction is complete.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Laila Rogers: Donald trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ may have a local impact in Syracuse as it awaits approval from the republican controlled senate.
Kobe Scales: The bill would cancel more than three billion dollars in unspent grant money nationwide, including part of a multi-million dollar grant for the I-81 neighborhood reconstruction.
NCC News reporter Ryan Bell is live in Syracuse with more. Ryan?
Ryan Bell: A portion of a 180 million dollar grant awarded to Central New York is in danger of being cut. The money is set to be used for neighborhood reconstruction, here, at street level below I-81 following the tear down. But now, Donald Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill could retract billions of dollars in unspent grants nationwide if it passes through the senate. Included in that money is 30 million dollars for neighbor hood revitalization after Interstate 81 falls. Republican and Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon says he is advocating to keep that grant money and remove those specific cuts from the bill.
Ryan McMahon: That program where that $30 million is in is a popular program. There’s other communities throughout the country. And blue states, purple states and red states that are in a similar situation that Syracuse is in. So we’ll advocate directly to the majority leader in the minority leader.
Bell: The bill passed through the house last week, and now awaits a vote from the Republican controlled senate. Trump says he hopes to have the bill signed by July 4.