Proposed changes in President Trump's federal budget could have a major impact on public transportation in the Capital Region. Our Matt Hunter explains.

ALBANY, N.Y. – After spending millions to add Central Avenue's express Red Line to its bus-rapid transit system, CDTA is looking to spend another $65 million on similar upgrades to Western and Washington Avenue, as well as Route 4 along the Hudson River.

"Frankly, riders want it, riders need it and it spurs economic development along those corridors," CDTA CEO Carm Basile said on Tuesday.

The problem for CDTA's proposed Blue and Purple Line projects is the major funding source the authority relies on could be drying up. In his 2019 federal budget draft, President Donald Trump has proposed scaling down the Capital Investment Grants, or CIG, program.

"They are competitive grants that are awarded based on the merits of the project,” Basile said. “Because of this proposal, the funding is, at least temporarily, halted."

During the American Public Transportation Association’s annual legislative conference in Washington, D.C., Basile joined other industry leaders at a Monday afternoon press conference to urge federal lawmakers to keep the funding intact. They argue the cuts could cause a $90 billion economic hit across the country.

"We would really need to rethink the financing,” Basil said of the potential impact on the Blue and Purple Line projects. “If nothing else, it's going to set them back and delay them at least a couple of years."

The federal budget proposal states the changes will incentive states and local governments to find new ways to raise money of their own for infrastructure projects, but transportation officials fear they will be unable to fulfill the promises they've made to communities and passengers about future upgrades.

"We've made a promise to our customers and we've made a promise to our communities that we'll build these lines,” Basile said. “We want to make good on those promises."