FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 14, 2009

GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES $98 MILLION IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY FUNDING FOR CAPITAL REGION INFRASTRUCTURE

First Approved Projects Include Delaware Avenue Reconstruction and Two Bridge Replacements

Funding will Create Estimated 2,352 Jobs in the Capital District

Governor David A. Paterson today announced that the Capital Region is expected to receive at least $98 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, bridgework and other long-term improvements to the region’s infrastructure and will create an estimated 2,352 jobs.

“I am thankful to President Obama and New York’s Congressional Delegation for recognizing that these funds are an investment in our economic future,” Governor Paterson said. “We in New York know that the way to economic recovery is job creation. While the projects announced today represent a small number of opportunities that will be funded with federal economic recovery dollars they kick start the important tasking of getting people back to work, while also investing in safer and more efficient infrastructure systems.”

In addition to these funds, New York State Department of Transportation will award $87 million in highway and bridge contracts next year and the Capital Region will receive approximately $31 million in Consolidated Highway Improvement Program funding, which the recovery funds enabled us to restore to the State budget. In total, the Capital Region area will receive $216 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 (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 the Capital Region’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 certified a ARRA-funded project for which the City of Albany has recently awarded a $14.9 million contract. The project will reconstruct Delaware Avenue for the 1.6 miles between Madison Avenue and the bridge over the New York State Thruway linking Albany and Delmar, Albany County. The project will include curb, drainage and utility work, as well as sidewalk, signal improvements and streetscaping. Project construction is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2010.

In addition, the Governor has certified two upcoming projects in Warren County. Specifically, the projects, which are entirely ARRA funded, include:

$1.7 million to replace the County Route 3/Warrensburg Road Bridge over Stony Creek in the Town of Stony Creek, Warren County. The project is scheduled to be completed in May 2010.