U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $16.2 Million in Grants for New York Highway Projects |
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Topics: Ray LaHood
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Federal Highway Administration
17 August 2011
FHWA 37-11
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Contact: Kelly Hanahan
Tel: 202-366-0660
Funds will help create jobs by replacing bridges, maintaining the roadways and making crucial ferry improvements
WASHINGTON - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced more than $16.2 million in grants for New York to fund an array of highway-related efforts ranging from upgrading the Staten Island Ferry to environmental improvements.
"Transportation investments like these will create jobs and improve the quality of life for New York residents as well as strengthen the state's economy," said Secretary LaHood. "The demand from the states for these funds shows just how critical the need is for infrastructure investment."
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) invited states to apply in June for federal funding from 14 grant programs. Requests poured in from every state, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. - more than 1,800 applications, totaling nearly $13 billion, which is more than 30 times the funds available.
"At a time when states are facing serious budgetary constraints, these grants will help fill a critical need," said Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez. "Investments like these are immediate and long-lasting and will help create jobs."
Congress created the discretionary grant programs to give FHWA the latitude to support projects that maintain the nation's roads and bridges, improve roadway safety and make communities more livable. In previous years, Congress designated some of this grant money for specific projects and FHWA awarded the remainder through a competitive process. Because the FY11 budget passed by Congress last April directed that all such funds be discretionary, FHWA awarded these funds through a competitive process.
New York received funding for the following projects:
| PROJECT | AWARD |
|---|---|
| Rehabilitating three major bridges on I-787 in Albany to eliminate bridge deficiencies | $3,750,000 |
| Improving the Bay Shore Maple Avenue Dock in Islip | $2,440,000 |
| Converting the Staten Island Ferry Boat to Liquefied Natural Gas in New York City | $2,340,000 |
| Replacing two bridges on I-84 over Dingle Ridge Road near Peach Lake | $2,040,000 |
| Constructing the Wyandanch Intermodal Plaza and Roadway Network in Suffolk County | $1,956,601 |
| Construction of phase 1 of the Lake Placid Multimodal Path | $1,208,708 |
| Reconstructing the Lake Champlain ferry slip in Clinton County | $920,000 |
| Pedestrian safety improvements at two high-speed rail crossings in Fonda | $502,073 |
| Replacing damaged sidewalks on Route 248 in Independence | $391,320 |
| Developing of a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise/Supportive Services plan | $343,380 |
| Improving access and safety at Brookwood Point on the Route 20 Scenic Byway near Cooperstown | $188,175 |
| Developing a Construction Career Days program for high school juniors and seniors | $100,000 |
| Installing signs along the Mohawk Towpath Byway which follows the historic route of the Erie Canal between Schenectady and Waterford/Cohoes in upstate New York | $38,150 |
| TOTAL | $16,218,407 |
A complete state-by-state list of this year's grant recipients is available online at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1137/.