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A new federal transportation bill that is making its way to the White House contains tens of millions of dollars for projects along Buffalo's stagnant waterfront.

The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill, entitled the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, was announced by U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo. The lawmakers said the package allocates $25 million for the Peace Bridge project, included in the more than $16.5 billion in total federal spending for New York state, a $3 billion increase.

"Buffalo has waited for years to get things moving at the Peace Bridge and Outer Harbor, and these federal dollars will go a long way towards getting these projects done," Schumer said in a statement.

The Senate portion of the bill calls for $17 million toward the Peace Bridge while the House of Represenatives will kick in $8 million.

Another $17.36 million is targeted to the Southtowns Connector project -- $9.36 million secured by Higgins, $8 million from the Senate. That's on top of more than $5 million Schumer and Clinton said was allocated in last year's appropriations bill for improvements along Route 5 from the U.S. Coast Guard base to Ohio Street.

"The era of inertia in Buffalo is ending," said Higgins, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.