NY Governor Paterson Announces $34 Million In Economic Recovery Funding For North Country Infrastructure

First Approved Projects Include Bridge Repair, Highway Resurfacing, Maintenance and Signal Improvements; Funding will Create Estimated 816 Jobs in the North Country

April 14, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that the North Country is expected to receive at least $34 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 816 jobs.

Article continues below...

“I want to thank President Obama and the entire New York State Congressional Delegation for their work to secure this crucial funding,” Governor Paterson said. “In funding these infrastructure projects create jobs, improve roadways and bridges and ensure that we commit to a cleaner environment. These investments will get New York back on the road to economic recovery and headed toward a safer, more efficient future.

In addition to these funds, the New York State Department of Transportation will award $25 million in highway and bridge contracts next year and the North Country will receive approximately $23 million in Consolidated Highway Improvement Program funding, which the recovery funds enabled us to restore to the State budget. In total, the North Country will receive $82 million in highway and bridge funding in State Fiscal Year 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. The funds are allocated to projects that are selected by the 13 regional Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO’s) across the State, which 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 transportation infrastructure and improve the safety of motorists in the North Country. 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 $20 million in projects in the North Country using ARRA funding. Specifically, the projects include:

* $900,000 to resurface approximately one mile of Oak Street, a Plattsburgh city street, and one mile of North Catherine Street (State Route 22), also in Plattsburgh. The streets, which run parallel to each other, will be improved from Broad Street to Boynton Avenue. The top layer of worn, deteriorated pavement will be removed and replaced with new asphalt and fresh pavement markings. The project is scheduled for completion by the fall of 2009;

* $5 million to resurface and provide fresh pavement markings on approximately 40 miles of various highways in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Franklin and Clinton counties. The project is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2009;

* $800,000 to replace five intersection signal systems in Clinton, Franklin and Jefferson counties. These signal improvements will maximize travel efficiency at the intersections as well as provide an added measure of safety to the traveling public. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009.

* $1.1 million for a project to provide much-needed maintenance to approximately 500 miles of highway in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Franklin and Clinton counties. This work involves cleaning and sealing cracks in the pavement that contribute to deterioration of the highway surface. The project is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2009;

* $2.2 million to repair bridges in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Franklin and Clinton counties. This work will help curb deterioration and improve overall bridge conditions. The project is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2010;

* $1.3 million to complete a project replacing deteriorated guide rail in the Adirondack Park in Clinton Franklin and St. Lawrence counties. The project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2009;

* $1.4 million for a project to provide needed maintenance work to two bridges in St. Lawrence County. One structure is on State Route 11B and crosses the East Branch of the St. Regis River while the second is on State Route 420 and crosses over the Racquette River. This project involves work on both bridges, including deck and guiderail replacement, as well as curb and expansion joint replacement. The project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2009.

* $4 million for a project to restore the protective paint on eight bridges in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties. Structures to be addressed in the contract include Interstate bridges on I-81 in Jefferson County, as well as a pair of bridges on State Route 58 in St. Lawrence County. The remaining structures are all on state routes in Jefferson and St. Lawrence County. The bridge painting project is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2010.

* $3.5 million for a project to rehabilitate four large culverts in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties. The culverts are located on State Routes 72, 184 and 342 and will be receiving new linings as well as inlet and outlet cleanings to allow for the more efficient movement of water. The project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2009.

U.S. Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand said: “This is great news for North Country families and businesses. These federal dollars will go a long way to help improve infrastructure and promote economic growth in the region. I will continue working with Governor Paterson, Senator Schumer, and our Congressional Delegation to make sure New York gets its fair share of federal dollars.”

Congressman John M. McHugh said: “Infrastructure funding is critically important in the North Country and I am very pleased that federal funding is being directed to a variety of transportation projects in the 23rd Congressional District. This funding provides the resources necessary for local communities to make much-needed improvements that will benefit local residents and businesses. I want to thank Governor Paterson for selecting these vitally needed initiatives for the North Country.”

Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith said: “The quick and decisive steps of the Governor and our State delegation in identifying priority transportation and infrastructure projects will put New York back on the road to economic recovery. In the North Country, job creation and protection, as well as sound economic development are absolutely essential to the long-term economic growth of our State and will help us maintain our status as the Empire State. Though some areas of the North Country have managed to stem the tide of recent job losses, these projects represent the rebuilding of our infrastructure as well as the foundation of our economy as new jobs are created, and people are put back to work.”

State Senator Darrel J. Aubertine said: “These projects will update our infrastructure and generate many new jobs in the process. It is my priority to see to it that any funding results in both immediate and long-term results for the region. And that’s what these projects do through much-needed road maintenance and bridge repair that benefits residents, the local labor force, and our Departments of Transportation. In simplest terms, I’m certainly pleased that these are smart investments targeted to where they will do the most good, and believe that they will help us get our economy back on track.”

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell said: “These much needed road and bridge repairs will provide residents with safer roads and most importantly create and retain many local jobs. These are shovel ready projects our local municipalities desperately need, and with these funds they will be completed without adding additional strain to local taxpayers. Investments in our infrastructure are investments from which we will benefit for years to come.”

Source: New York Governor