GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES $11.3 MILLION IN STIMULUS FUNDING FOR CENTRAL NEW YORK TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

Total Economic Recovery Investment for Road and Bridge Projects in Region Reaches $79.4 Million

Governor David A. Paterson today announced the certification of an additional $11.3 million for transportation projects in Central New York through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). These investments will fund essential highway and bridge repair projects and other long-term improvements that will create an estimated 269 jobs. These certifications bring the total ARRA funding allotment for Central New York transportation projects to $79.4 million. The area is expected to receive $82 million in economic-recovery funding, including $25 million for Oneida, Madison, Herkimer, Montgomery, Fulton and Hamilton counties and $57 million for Onondaga, Cortland, Tompkins, Cayuga, Seneca and Oswego counties.

“In rehabilitating Central New York’s roads and bridges, we invest in safer public works while also getting New Yorkers back to work,” Governor Paterson said. “President Obama and our Congressional Delegation intended that we use our transportation and infrastructure funding to target shovel-ready projects that will make needed enhancements to our communities and invigorate local economies. I am pleased to announce these certifications that bring economic recovery to our Central New York communities.”

The certifications for projects in Central New York include:
• $2.2 million of ARRA funding for a project to paint 14 bridges, one in Fulton County, four in Herkimer County, two in Montgomery County and seven in Oneida County. The structural steel elements of each bridge will be commercially sandblasted to eliminate rust and corrosion and then painted. Routine maintenance of this nature is essential to extending bridge life and reducing the frequency and extent of future structural repairs and reconstruction. The project is expected to be completed next year;
• $3.9 million of ARRA funding for a project to rehabilitate pavement at 14 sites in the cities of Amsterdam, Montgomery County; Johnstown and Gloversville, Fulton County; and Little Falls, Herkimer County. Work will consist primarily of milling and resurfacing pavement surfaces, new pavement markings and new American with Disabilities Act compliant handicapped accessible sidewalk ramps. Construction is expected to begin this summer and be completed by next summer; and
• $5.2 million of ARRA funding for a project to rehabilitate several state highways in Oneida County, including resurfacing approximately 16 ½ miles of various highways and approximately five miles of shoulder along I-790 in Oneida County. In the urban areas, the top layer of worn deteriorated pavement will be removed and replaced with new asphalt and fresh pavement markings. In the rural areas, the pavement will be resurfaced with new asphalt and fresh pavement markings. Construction is expected to begin this fall and be completed next year.

Specifically, improvements will be made at the following locations:
• State Route 233, resurface approximately 5 ½ miles from New York State Thruway Exit 32 in the town of Westmoreland, Oneida County, to Route 69 (Martin Street) in the city of Rome, Oneida County;
• State Route 233, resurface approximately 1 ¼ miles in the town of Kirkland, Oneida County, from NYS Route 12B to NYS Route 412;
• State Route 921C (Champlin Avenue), resurface approximately ½ mile in the town of Whitestown and village of Yorkville, Oneida County;
• State Route 12, resurface approximately 9 ¼ miles from Alder Creek to the Lewis County line in both the town and village of Boonville, Oneida County; and
• Interstate Route 790, mill and resurface almost five miles of shoulders in the town of Marcy and city of Utica, Oneida County.

Earlier this month, Governor Paterson announced that in addition to the ARRA funding, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will award Central New York $88 million in highway and bridge contracts this fiscal year. The area also will receive approximately $50 million in Consolidated Highway Improvement Program funding, which the recovery funds enabled to be restored to this level in the state budget. In total, Central New York communities will receive more than $220 million in highway and bridge funding in State Fiscal Year 2009-10.

The economic recovery funds New York will receive for transportation projects must follow the same process required for distributing all federal transportation funds. The money is 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 NYSDOT representatives. MPOs vote unanimously on projects for their Transportation Improvement Program, and the projects are then eligible to receive economic-recovery funds.

Similarly, regions of New York State without MPOs are served by the 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.
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The following quotes were provided in support of the Central New York economic recovery projects:

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer said: “The recovery package was designed to jumpstart the economy by creating and retaining jobs, and these federal dollars will go a long way toward achieving that goal by breaking ground on these long overdue infrastructure projects. This is the best way to put federal dollars to work for our local economy because it will modernize infrastructure, create jobs and promote economic development across the region.”

U.S. Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand said: “Today’s announcement by Governor Paterson that stimulus funds we passed in Congress will be used to upgrade roads and bridges in Central New York is great news for the safety of our residents and for continued economic recovery in the region. More than just making needed upgrades to transportation infrastructure, the investment of these critical federal dollars will create hundreds of good paying jobs. I will continue to work with Senator Schumer and our entire Congressional delegation to ensure that New York gets its fair share of federal dollars.”

Congressman Michael Arcuri said: “I am pleased that Governor Paterson continues to invest economic recovery funds we voted for in Congress in local infrastructure projects. These projects will spur economic activity and create and save 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 John M. McHugh said: “I am very pleased that federal funding is being directed to a variety of transportation projects in the 23rd Congressional District. These projects provide local communities with the resources they need to make improvements that will benefit local residents and businesses. I want to thank Governor Paterson for selecting these vitally needed initiatives for the Central New York.”

Congressman Paul D. Tonko said: “I appreciate how quickly Governor Paterson is moving to certify these projects and get the stimulus dollars flowing into our communities. These projects will lead to a better outcome during this difficult time by fixing our roads and bridges, boosting our local economies, and providing badly needed jobs.”

New York State Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee said: “The federal funding we are announcing today is a vital investment in Central New York’s transportation infrastructure. Governor Paterson has been a leader in selecting projects quickly and efficiently so we can ramp up construction and put New Yorkers back to work.”

Senator David J. Valesky said: “These positive investments in infrastructure lay the groundwork for a durable economic recovery in Upstate New York by creating jobs and improving our transportation corridors.”

Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito said: “I am very pleased by the action we are taking today in releasing these funds which will further improve our community’s transportation infrastructure for new job creation and economic development opportunities. The spring construction season is upon us, and we will continue to pump new money into our economy while making our roads safer for our local residents and visitors alike.”