First Approved Projects Include Resurfacing Routes 219 and 417. Funding will Create Estimated 1,728 Jobs in Western New York

Governor David A. Paterson, along with NYS Senator William Stachowski, Senator Schumer, Congresswoman Slaughter, Congressman Higgins, NYS Senator Thompson and Assemblyman Gabrazak have announced that Western New York State is expected to receive at least $72 million in transportation and infrastructure funding through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) signed into law by President Obama. This critical funding will go toward much-needed highway and road repair, bridgework and other long-term improvements to the region’s infrastructure and will create an estimated 1,728 jobs.

“New York’s outstanding Congressional Delegation recognized the immediate need for this funding and fought tirelessly until it was secured,” said Governor Paterson. “This money will not only put our residents back to work, it will create safer roads, stronger infrastructure and a cleaner environment for generations of future residents. The projects announced today represent just a small number of the opportunities that will be funded with economic recovery dollars. In addition to these funds, NYSDOT will award $75 million in highway and bridge contracts next year and Western New York will receive approximately $32.9 million in Consolidated Highway Improvement Program funding, which the recovery funds enabled us to restore to the State budget. In total, Western New York communities will receive $180 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. 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 members of the Department of Transportation. MPOs 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 MPOs 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.

Senator Stachowski said "“the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding serves Western New York two fold. First, it provides the necessary funds to repair our roads and bridges, which is an obvious necessity. Infrastructure repairs and improvements go a long way in keeping a community viable for new and current business growth. Secondly, it creates over 1,700 jobs to do the work which is critical in a time of recovery. I applaud the efforts of Senator Schumer, Congresswoman Louis Slaughter, Congressman Brian Higgins and of course Governor Paterson in securing this funding for Western New York.”