June 30, 2009
GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES $95.3 MILLION IN STIMULUS FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE
New Projects to Create an Estimated 2,287 Jobs
Total Recovery Investment in New York’s Roads and Bridges Reaches $713.1 Million
Regional Highlights
Governor David A. Paterson today announced the certification of an additional $95.3 million for transportation projects through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The investments will provide for essential highway and bridge repairs and other long-term improvements that will create an estimated 2,287 jobs across the State. These certifications bring the total number of ARRA-certified transportation projects to 251, for which the federal stimulus package will provide $713.1 million of the $1.2 billion in total project costs.
Governor Paterson also announced an additional $12.6 million in economic recovery funding for transportation enhancement projects. Unlike traditional highway and bridge repairs, transportation enhancement projects make improvements with cultural, aesthetic, historical and environmental significance. The projects include the establishment of transportation museums, construction of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and environmental mitigation to address water pollution due to highway runoff. In April, Governor Paterson announced that under the ARRA program, the State had been allocated a total of $34 million in economic recovery funding for transportation enhancement projects.
“Thanks to President Obama and the entire New York State Congressional Delegation, we have been able to utilize this significant economic recovery funding to rehabilitate numerous roads and bridges that otherwise may not have received immediate improvements,” Governor Paterson said. “In doing this, we have succeeded in both creating and maintaining jobs in communities across the State and in moving New York’s economy toward recovery.”
Some of the projects in today’s certification announcement include:
- $30 million in ARRA funding for a $392.4 million project to rehabilitate the Brooklyn Bridge in Kings and New York counties. The project will repair and widen the ramps leading to both Brooklyn and Manhattan and the entire bridge will be repainted. The improvements to the ramps, which are in poor condition, will improve traffic conditions, particularly for vehicles entering from FDR Drive. The repainting will extend the useful life of the bridge. More than 100,000 vehicles, 4,000 pedestrians and 2,600 bicyclists cross the Brooklyn Bridge every day.
- $7.3 million in ARRA funding for a project to reconstruct Ferry Street and a portion of Congress Street, State Route 2, between Fifth Avenue and 11th Street, in the city of Troy in Rensselaer County. This road is a major east/west artery between Troy and Albany, as well as a heavily-used commuter and truck route. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.
- $5.5 million in ARRA funding to resurface Route 987G, Taconic State Parkway, from north of Underhill Avenue to Route 134 in Yorktown in Westchester County. The 3.3-mile project will include removing worn, distressed pavement and replacing it with new asphalt and pavement markings and improving drainage. Construction is expected to be completed by August 2010.
- $3.2 million in ARRA funding for a transportation enhancement project to add new or rehabilitate existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities throughout the town of Riverhead in Suffolk County. Work is expected to be completed by March 2012.
- $2.2 million in ARRA funding for a $4.9 million project to replace two highway ramp bridges at the Interstate I-190/ I-290 interchange in the Town of Tonawanda in Erie County. New bridges will be installed on new alignments to the north of the existing bridges, eliminating structural deficiencies and providing roadway improvements that meet today’s design standards and respond to traffic forecasts. These improvements will provide for adequate capacity and safety in a cost effective manner throughout a design life of 50 years. Work is expected to be completed by fall 2011.
- $1.2 million in ARRA funding for a $1.3 million project to replace the bridge carrying County Route 34 over Johnson Creek in the town of Norwich in Chenango County. Work is expected to be completed in by the end of 2010.
The economic recovery funds New York will receive for transportation projects must follow the same process required for distributing all federal transportation funds. The funds are allocated to projects that are selected by the 13 regional Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) across the State, which are comprised of local elected officials, local transit operators and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) representatives. MPOs vote unanimously on projects for their Transportation Improvement Program, and the projects then are eligible to receive economic recovery funds.
Similarly, regions of New York State without MPOs are served by NYSDOT, which consults with local elected officials and selects projects for the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. The department is working with local officials and the Governor’s Economic Recovery Cabinet to identify priority shovel-ready projects eligible for recovery funds. For more information, please visit: http://recovery.ny.gov/.
The following quotes were provided in support of the certified economic recovery projects:
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer said: “Investing in transportation projects is just what New York needs because it creates jobs and updates our aged infrastructure. These necessary upgrades and improvements will go a long way in ensuring the safety of New Yorkers and the longevity of our roads and bridges. I am proud to have worked so hard to secure this money and see it put to such good use.”
U.S. Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand said: “This is the right investment for our State. These federal dollars will help create new good-paying jobs, upgrade infrastructure and help rebuild our economy. I will continue working with Governor Paterson, Senator Schumer and the entire Congressional Delegation to make sure New York gets its fair share from the federal government.”
Congressman Michael Arcuri said: “I am pleased that Governor Paterson continues to invest economic recovery funds in local infrastructure projects. These projects are vital because they not only create local jobs, but help revitalize our downtowns and make our communities more inviting. These projects will spur economic activity and create jobs, which are necessities given the current unemployment rate. I will continue to work with the Governor and State elected officials to make sure our region’s shovel-ready priority projects receive economic recovery funds.”
Congressman Tim Bishop said: “These projects will create jobs and improve Long Island’s quality of life. We need to put Long Islanders to work and rebuild our infrastructure. Increasingly, we are doing that with funds through the Recovery Act.”
Congressman Eliot Engel said: “This is federal money coming down to the local level to help the economy, and in Yonkers to enhance the safety of pedestrians and drivers. I thank Governor Paterson for his rapid response in using the money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to improve the lives of residents throughout the State.”
Congressman John Hall said: “Rebuilding New York’s crumbling infrastructure creates jobs that by their very nature cannot be outsourced. By working quickly and cooperatively, we are able to bring these federal tax dollars back home for good use in Hudson Valley communities. We are spending recovery funds wisely by focusing on projects that will create long-term value for years to come. Fixing America’s roads, bridges, and public transit will improve all of our quality of life by making our roads and bridges safer, reducing traffic delays, improving our air quality, and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.”
Congressman Steve Israel said: “Recovery Act funding is now being put to work in a big way – rebuilding our infrastructure and creating new jobs. Long Island deserves its fair share of funding. These just announced Recovery Act projects will help us generate new economic activity.”
Congresswoman Nita Lowey said: “These investments in our communities’ livability will both create jobs and make our region an even greater place to live, work, and do business. I was pleased to have advocated successfully for transportation investments in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and to have helped pass this critical stimulus into law.”
Congressman Eric Massa said: “I’m proud to help deliver these important infrastructure funds to Allegany and Cattaraugus Counties. Rebuilding our roads while creating jobs is exactly why I voted for the Recovery plan.”
Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy said: “I am pleased that Governor Paterson has certified important projects that will help improve Long Island’s transportation infrastructure. This funding will help rehabilitate badly deteriorated roads, repair aging and failing drainage systems and improve dated motorist information signs. These projects will help to create jobs, boost our local economy and bring much needed improvements to major roadways and thoroughfares throughout Long Island. I look forward to continuing to work with Governor Paterson to continue to find ways to rebuild Long Island’s infrastructure and economy.”
Congressman Michael E. McMahon said: “Yet another win for Staten Island and Brooklyn. The economic recovery funds announced today will replace the dilapidated signs along the expressways in both boroughs. This is just one more step in the direction of repairing our roadways and easing the commute of all New Yorkers. I commend the Governor for his continued, insightful distribution of funds.”
Congressman Scott Murphy said: “These infrastructure investments will make critical safety improvements to our aging roads and bridges and improve the ability of emergency services to treat the people of Saratoga Springs. The funds that have come into the 20th district are already putting people back to work and creating a foundation for long-term economic growth in our area. I look forward to continuing to work to implement more recovery funds to create jobs, spur our economy and improve the lives of the people of New York.”
Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter said: “Thanks to the economic recovery act we will be able to put Western New Yorkers back to work while repairing and strengthening our aging roads and bridges. For example, some funding will be provided for La Avenida to redo the road and streetscape on North Clinton between Upper Falls Boulevard and Avenue D. The project will support the creation of a stable commercial corridor along North Clinton, a neighborhood asset with tremendous economic potential. This is just one of the projects that will take place to improve our infrastructure and strengthen our community.”
Congressman Paul Tonko said: “The approval for these projects means creating and retaining jobs, taking another step to improving our economic situation. I appreciate Governor Paterson for continuing to move swiftly to certify these projects, which will use stimulus dollars we approved in Congress to improve our local transportation infrastructure and make travel for commuters and commerce that much easier.”
NYSDOT Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee said: “The essential improvements being made to these highways and bridges are providing the people of the New York State with a safer and more reliable transportation system. Governor Paterson’s commitment to implementing these funds to both eligible state and local projects will create construction jobs and help reestablish the State’s economy.”
Senator Martin Malavé Dilan, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, said: “I am pleased with Governor Paterson’s announcement of an additional $95.3 million in funding for bridge and highway improvement projects statewide – particularly the $12.6 million dedicated to enhance the modality and lessen the environmental burden of our roads. This money will not only provide for a more durable and safe transportation infrastructure, but will also create nearly 2,287 new jobs statewide. I would like to commend our Congressional Delegation and the New York State Department of Transportation for their work to certify and allocate these critical funds. Each wave of funding creates jobs and helps get the State’s economy back on track.”
Assemblyman David Gantt, Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee, said: “Reviving the nation’s economy during this recession is an enormous and important undertaking for federal and state governments. I am pleased that stimulus dollars will go towards upgrades to North Clinton Avenue, where improvements to the sidewalks, curbs and intersection are long overdue. It is my hope that this work will not only improve the quality of the roadway but create jobs and encourage economic growth along the way.”
