ELMIRA, N.Y. -- A Southern Tier Congressman is tackling a national issue at the local level.
Wednesday local leaders met with Congressman Tom Reed to discuss ways to improve infrastructure.
Congress is expected to take up a highway bill at the end of the month.
Reed said he wanted to hear how to improve the system from those closest to it.
He said the common themes are finding ways to effectively get tax dollars into municipalities and cutting regulatory oversight.
"I was hearing repeated, consistent themes of over burdened, over controlling at the local level," Reed said. "These guys are the professionals. These are the guys who know their local road system. These are the guys who know their local rail systems. Let them be more empowered to make the decisions of where the dollars are going to go."
Without a new deal or extension from Congress, the transportation bill is set to expire in May.