Sen. Schneiderman Hails Major Infrastructure Improvements Projects In District
NEW YORK -- Governor David A. Paterson today announced he has recently certified $32.3 million for transportation projects in New York City through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This important investment will fund essential highway and bridge repairs and other long-term improvements to the region’s infrastructure and will create an estimated 775 jobs.
Counties in New York City are expected to receive a total of $313.9 million in economic-recovery funding for important projects, which will create an estimated 7,533 jobs.
“President Obama and Congress worked hard to bring economic recovery to New York State for transportation and other infrastructure investment projects that will create jobs, keep our roadways in a state-of-good-repair and boost local economies,” Governor Paterson said. “It is now our job to put these funds to good use to maintain our state and local highways and bridges, while creating desperately needed jobs in communities across New York State.”
“This is an important down payment on our infrastructure with benefits that are both immediate and long-term,” said Sen. Eric T. Schneiderman. “It will create jobs, invest in our community, and improve the transportation infrastructure that’s necessary for a durable recovery.”
New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee said, “The federal funding we are announcing today is a vital investment in New York City’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.”
The certification covers a total of $32.7 million in projects in Bronx, New York, Queens and Richmond counties, including $32.3 million in ARRA funding. Specifically, the projects are:
- $27.5 million in ARRA funding to repair and resurface approximately 45 miles of pavement on highways in Bronx, New York and Queens counties. In Bronx County, work will be done on the Major Deegan Expressway southbound lanes from the Mosholu Parkway to Fordham Road and on the Bruckner Expressway northbound lanes from the Cross Bronx Expressway to the Throggs Neck Expressway. In New York County, work will be performed on the Henry Hudson Parkway northbound lanes from 181st Street to Dyckman Street and on the Harlem River Drive in both directions from the Macombs Dam Bridge to the Trans-Manhattan Expressway. In Queens County, resurfacing will be done on the Long Island Expressway in both directions from the Grand Central Parkway to the Clearview Expressway. The project is scheduled for completion in September 2011.
- $2.2 million in ARRA funding to expand the existing park-and-ride facility on Huguenot Avenue in Richmond County. The project will nearly double the number of available parking spaces, from the current 106 spaces to 205 spaces. Existing parking areas will be resurfaced and reconfigured, and landscaping improvements will also be made, including the addition of new bicycle parking, benches, trees and other plantings. Construction will be completed in March 2010.
- $2.6 million in ARRA funding for a $3 million project to expand the existing Eltingville Transit Center park-and-ride facility in Richmond County. This project will add approximately 160 parking spaces to the existing 225 spaces. Operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit, the facility serves 16 local and express bus lines. Construction will be completed in April 2010.
Earlier this month, Governor Paterson announced that in addition to the ARRA funding, NYSDOT will award New York City $382 million in highway and bridge contracts state fiscal year 2009-10. The area also will receive approximately $75 million in Consolidated Highway Improvement Program funding, which the recovery funds enabled to be restored to this level in the state budget. In total, New York City communities will receive more than $771 million in highway and bridge funding in State Fiscal Year 2009-10.
The economic-recovery funds coming to New York State 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 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.
