President-elect Obama is set to role out an economic stimulus package that will be the 21st century’s New Deal.  In his words it will include putting “people back to work rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges, modernizing schools that are failing our children and building wind farms and solar panels, fuel efficient cars and the alternative energy technologies that could free us from our dependence on foreign oil and keep our economy competitive in the years ahead.”  He is essentially talking about government doing what it is supposed to do: build infrastructure as the scaffolding for economic viability.

Now is Mr. McHugh’s time to assert all those years of seniority and influence that he claims to have.  The roof top highway as a direct connector between Watertown’s I-81 and Plattsburgh’s I-87 has been talked about for years.  In fact, it already has a putative number: Interstate 98.

The North Country has long been plagued by a fundamental lack of transportation infrastructure. Rural residents have long commutes to jobs across a wide expanse and manufacturers have difficulty getting raw materials and good to markets.  Good transportation attracts new business, enhances competitiveness, improves amenities, and reduces transportation related accidents and injuries.  The construction of the rooftop highway will not only result in immediate job creation but most importantly provide a foundation to build our economy so that we can wean ourselves off government subsidization that this region is so dependent upon.  A chance to attract and entice real industry that makes things that people and other nations want to buy. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that every dollar invested in the highway system yields $5.60 in economic benefits over and above the temporary jobs created to build the highway.

Mr. McHugh signed on to the contract with America in 1994 that, among others, called for term limits.  Since then Mr. McHugh has opposed term limits reasoning that they put rural districts at a disadvantage by reducing the importance of seniority and the influence that it brings.  Mr. McHugh is 16 going on 18 years in Congress. Transportation infrastructure is one of the few items that a congressman can legitimately claim credit of bringing to their district.

This is where the rubber hits the road for Mr. McHugh.  It is time for him to finally perform and not miss this golden opportunity to build the rooftop highway.