www.ny.gov - GOVERNOR PATERSON AND CONGRESSMAN HINCHEY ANNOUNCE $89 MILLION IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY FUNDING FOR SOUTHERN TIER INFRASTRUCTURE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 8, 2009

GOVERNOR PATERSON AND CONGRESSMAN HINCHEY ANNOUNCE $89 MILLION IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY FUNDING FOR SOUTHERN TIER INFRASTRUCTURE

First Approved Projects Include Bridge Reconstructions, Maintenance and Drainage Improvements

Funding will Create an Estimated 2,136 Jobs in the Southern Tier

Governor David A. Paterson today announced that the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) regions in the Southern Tier are expected to receive at least $89 million in transportation and infrastructure funding through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This critical funding will go toward much-needed highway and road repair, bridge span work and other long-term improvements to the region’s infrastructure and will create an estimated 2,136 jobs. The Governor was joined by Congressman Maurice Hinchey for the announcement at the DOT Garage in Owego.

“I want to thank President Obama and New York’s Congressional Delegation for recognizing how important this funding is to our communities and working to ensure it was secured,” Governor Paterson said. “This money will finance new employment opportunities, better infrastructure and make the improvements we need for a better tomorrow. This means safer bridges in seven Southern Tier counties, including here in Tioga County. The projects we announced today represent a small number of those that will be funded with the economic recovery funds and I am committed to spending each federal dollar we receive.”

In addition to these funds, DOT will award $166 million in highway and bridge contracts next year and the Southern Tier will receive approximately $50 million in Consolidated Highway Improvement Program funding, which the recovery funds enabled us to restore to the State budget. In total, Southern Tier communities in DOT Regions 6 and 9 will receive more than $305 million in highway and bridge funding in 2009-10.

The economic recovery funds coming to New York for transportation projects must follow the same process required for distributing all federal transportation funds. In the Southern Tier, DOT Region 6 is expected to receive $33 million and Region 9 is expected to receive $56 million. The funds are allocated to projects that are selected by the 13 regional Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO’s) across the State. The MPO’s are comprised of local elected officials, local transit operators and members of the Department of Transportation. MPO’s vote unanimously on projects for their Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and economic recovery funds will be directed to projects on those lists. Similarly, regions of New York without MPO’s are served by the State Department of Transportation, 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.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn said: “These projects will preserve the integrity of the Southern Tier’s transportation infrastructure and improve the safety of motorists. Governor Paterson has worked hard to secure these valuable federal funds to bolster our transportation infrastructure and invest in critical job creation.”

Governor Paterson has recently certified $24.3 million in projects for a dozen Southern Tier Counties, which includes $19.3 million in ARRA funding. Specifically, the projects include:

$6.6 million of ARRA funding to paint 25 bridges on State Route 17 in Broome and Tioga counties in the towns of Vestal, Candor, Nichols, Barton and the Village of Waverly. The work will be entirely funded by ARRA. Bridge painting helps to preserve the structural integrity and delay deterioration of the steel superstructures. This work is expected to be completed by late summer 2010;

$2.1 million of ARRA funding to perform bridge maintenance at various locations in Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan and Tioga counties. The projects will be entirely funded by ARRA. This work includes repairs to bridge elements such as bridge joints, bearings, approach slabs, bridge railings and slope protection. This work is expected to be completed by late spring 2010;

$1.1 million of ARRA funding for a $5.5 million project to paint bridges on I-86 and I-390 at various locations in Allegany and Steuben counties. The project will be completed in the fall of 2010;
$1.9 million of ARRA funding for a project to replace the bridge on Route 415 over Wolf Run Creek in the town of Campbell, Steuben County. The project will be completed in the fall of 2009;

$5.3 million of ARRA funding for a project to replace the I-86 bridge over Route 415 in the town of Painted Post, Steuben County. Project completion is scheduled for fall 2010;

$1 million of ARRA funding to rehabilitate culverts in various locations in the towns of Urbana and Pulteney, Steuben County. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009;

$800,000 of ARRA funding for a project to wash bridges and seal bridge decks at various locations in Allegany and Steuben counties. Work is scheduled to be completed by fall 2009; and

$500,000 of ARRA funding for a $1.1 million project to rehabilitate bridges in various locations in Allegany and Steuben counties.

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer said: “This critical investment in our bridges and roadways will not only create jobs during a time in which they are desperately needed, it will also improve the quality of life for residents of the Southern Tier by making travel smoother, safer and more pleasant. Investing in our infrastructure now will also save us money on repairs in the future, when they would be more costly.”

U.S. Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand said: “I welcome today’s announcement by Governor Paterson that stimulus funds we passed in Congress have started making their way towards our Southern Tier’s vital infrastructure needs. These critical federal dollars will not only create safer roads, and a stronger infrastructure, but will also start to revitalize the economy by putting almost 2100 men and women in the region back to work.”

Congressman Maurice Hinchey said: “It is very satisfying to see that the work we did in Washington to pass a significant economic recovery bill is literally paying off in the Southern Tier through these important transportation investments. By investing in our roads and bridges, we are creating jobs, making our communities more attractive to businesses and residents, improving resident’s quality of life, and sparing local taxpayers from the cost of these important projects. These types of investments in America's infrastructure are exactly what we need to help lift us out of this severe economic recession.”

Congressman Michael A. Arcuri said: “These are more examples of the Recovery Bill delivering results for Upstate New York that will improve our infrastructure and create jobs. Improving Upstate New York infrastructure is critical to achieving future economic development. I will continue to work with the Governor and municipalities to ensure that the Recovery Act addresses our local priorities.”

Congressman Eric Massa said: “Creating jobs and having something to show for it at the end of the day is exactly why I voted for the Recovery bill. This investment in the Southern Tier's infrastructure will create over 2,100 jobs and help strengthen our economy immediately. I want to thank Governor Paterson for joining me in helping deliver these funds and these jobs to the families of the Southern Tier.”

Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith said: “Investment in our State’s aging infrastructure is a sure way to create new jobs and breathe new life into the local economy. Central New York and the Southern Tier are home to some of the most beautiful communities anywhere in the northeast, and the more we can attract new investment and tourism, the better our economy as a whole will be. Transportation investment helps achieves that. I believe swift action by the Governor in putting federal stimulus dollars to work is very commendable, and that coordinated efforts such as this by state, federal and local officials will help turn our economy around.”

State Senator Martin Malavé Dilan said: “Under Governor Paterson’s leadership, Central New York and the Southern Tier today break ground on a series of statewide road improvements. Through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, not only do we begin repairing the State’s infrastructure, we put New Yorkers back to work; both of which are long view solutions to this economic crisis.”

State Senator David J. Valesky said, “I am pleased that a large portion of these projects have been designated for Central New York. Beginning these shovel ready projects represents a good first step in jump starting the Upstate economy by creating jobs and improving our aging infrastructure.”

Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo said: “I want to thank Governor Paterson for his leadership and efforts in working with Congress and President Obama’s administration in order to secure this much needed funding to help get our economy back on-track. I also want to commend the Department of Transportation on their planning and hard work. The DOT in the Southern Tier has been a model of intergovernmental cooperation. I am confident that the economic stimulus funds will be wisely spent.”

Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther said: “This funding for our highway infrastructure is vital during this economic recovery. I'm grateful to our Congressional Delegation for their diligent efforts to receive this funding for New York as well as Governor Paterson’s Economic Recovery Cabinet for identifying these projects.”