Governor David Paterson today announced the certification of an additional $18.3 million for transportation projects in the Capital Region through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). These investments will provide for essential highway and bridge repairs and other long-term improvements that will create an estimated 439 jobs. The area is expected to receive $98.1 million in economic recovery funding for bridge and road work in Albany, Essex, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Washington and Warren counties.

Governor Paterson also announced the certification of an additional $3.5 million in economic recovery funding for two transportation enhancement projects. Transportation enhancement projects make improvements with cultural, aesthetic, historical and environmental significance and must fit into one or more of the following federally specified categories. In April, Governor Paterson announced that through the ARRA, the State had been allocated a total of $34 million in economic recovery funding for transportation enhancement projects.

"Thanks to President Obama and the entire New York State Congressional Delegation, we have been able to utilize this significant economic recovery funding to rehabilitate numerous roads and bridges that otherwise may not have received immediate improvements," Governor Paterson said. "In doing so, we have succeeded in both creating and maintaining jobs in communities across the State and in moving New York's economy toward recovery."

The certifications include the following projects:

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  • $7.3 million in ARRA funding for a project to reconstruct Ferry Street and a portion of Congress Street (State Touring Route 2) between Fifth Avenue and 11^th Street, both in the city of Troy in Rensselaer County. Construction will start this summer and is scheduled for completion by fall 2010.

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  • $3.1 million in ARRA funding for an enhancement project to preserve the Day Peckingpaugh Canal Motorship as an operating vessel dedicated to State history and Erie Canal heritage for the New York State Museum in Albany County.
  • $3 million in ARRA funding for resurfacing sections of Washington Avenue in Albany, from Fuller Road to I-90, from Jermain Street to North Main Avenue and from Ontario Street to Lark Street.
  • $2.8 million in ARRA funding for a $2.9 million project to reconstruct a portion of Church Street (State Touring Route 9N) in the city of Saratoga Springs in Saratoga County. The project will improve Church Street between West Avenue and North Van Rensselaer Street a distance of about one-half mile. Church Street, a major east/west route through the city, directly accesses the city hospital and indirectly accesses the Amtrak station on West Avenue. Project construction is scheduled to start this summer and be completed next summer.

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  • $1.8 million in ARRA funding for the resurfacing of Van Vranken Avenue, a city street, between Nott Street and Maxon Road in the City of Schenectady in Schenectady County. The project will improve the condition of the deteriorating pavement and also construct Americans with Disabilities Act-complaint sidewalk ramps. This road is a major artery through the northern part of the city, servicing many businesses and residences. The project is scheduled to begin this summer and be completed this fall.
  • $1.7 million in ARRA funding for the rehabilitation of the Schenectady Bike/Hike trail in the City of Schenectady in Schenectady County. The project is scheduled to begin this summer and be completed in the fall of 2010.
  • $1.4 million in ARRA funding for a project to resurface Schenectady County Route 8 (River Road) between State Route 146 and Rosendale Road, and Providence Avenue between State Route 146 and the Schenectady City Line in the Town of Niskayuna in Schenectady County. The project will improve the condition of the deteriorating pavement and also construct ADA-complaint sidewalk ramps. The road links the City of Schenectady with the industrial section of Niskayuna, including direct access to the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory. The project is scheduled to start this summer and be completed over the winter.

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  • $373,000 in ARRA funding for the resurfacing of Schenectady County Route 158 (Rosendale Road) between River Road and State Route 7 in the Town of Niskayuna in Schenectady County. The project will improve the condition of the deteriorating pavement. The road links River Road, which accesses the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, with businesses along Route 7 in the western part of Niskayuna. The project will begin this summer and is scheduled for completion this fall.
  • $326,000 in ARRA funding for an enhancement project for the Ticonderoga Train Trestle conversion and historic trail expansion in the town of Ticonderoga in Essex County;

Earlier this month, Governor Paterson announced that in addition to the ARRA funding, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will award the Capital Region $87 million in highway and bridge contracts this fiscal year. The area also will receive approximately $31 million in Consolidated Highway Improvement Program funding, which the recovery funds enabled to be restored to this level in the state budget. In total, Capital Region communities will receive more than $216.1 million in highway and bridge funding in State Fiscal Year 2009-10.

The economic recovery funds New York will receive 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 NYSDOT representatives. MPOs vote unanimously on projects for their Transportation Improvement Program, and the projects then are eligible to receive economic recovery funds.

Similarly, regions of New York State without MPOs are served by NYSDOT, 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. For more information, please visit: http://recovery.ny.gov/. ###
The following quotes were provided in support of the Capital Region economic recovery projects:

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer said: "Investing in transportation projects is just what New York needs because it creates jobs and updates our aged infrastructure. These necessary upgrades and improvements will go a long way in ensuring the safety of New Yorkers and the longevity of our roads and bridges. I am proud to have worked so hard to secure this money and see it put to such good use."

U.S. Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand said: "This is the right investment for the Capital Region. These federal dollars will help create new good-paying jobs, upgrade infrastructure and help rebuild our economy. I will continue working with Governor Paterson, Senator Schumer and the entire Congressional Delegation to make sure New York gets its fair share from the federal government."

Congressman Scott Murphy said: "These infrastructure investments will make critical safety improvements to our aging roads and bridges and improve the ability of emergency services to treat the people of Saratoga Springs. The funds that have come into the 20th district are already putting people back to work and creating a foundation for long-term economic growth in our area. I look forward to continuing to work to implement more recovery funds to create jobs, spur our economy and improve the lives of the people of New York."

Congressman Paul Tonko said: "The approval for these projects means creating and retaining jobs, taking another step to improving our economic situation. I appreciate Governor Paterson for continuing to move swiftly to certify these projects, which will use stimulus dollars we approved in Congress to improve our local transportation infrastructure and make travel for commuters and commerce that much easier."

NYSDOT Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee said: "The essential improvements being made to these highways and bridges are providing the people of the New York State with a safer and more reliable transportation system. Governor Paterson's commitment to implementing these funds to both eligible state and local projects will create construction jobs and help reestablish the State's economy." Senator Neil Breslin said: "These projects are vital to the Capitol Region's economic health. Using the federal stimulus package for reconstruction will create jobs, beautify our neighborhoods, and provide significant economic benefits to local businesses by improving the transit infrastructure. I commend the Governor for prioritizing this project, and for partnering with myself and my colleagues here in Albany to ensure that the stimulus package provides both immediate and long-term economic benefits."

Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari said: "The announced repairs to the aging sections of Ferry and Congress Streets are great news for the people of the City of Troy who use these two important thoroughfares everyday. The roads need work and our communities do too. We are improving our infrastructure while simultaneously putting people back to work. That is the original intent of the federal stimulus plan and I am grateful to Governor Paterson and our Congressional delegation for their commitment to ensure that Upstate New York is not neglected."

Assemblyman Jack McEneny said: "New York's canal heritage is unique in the nation and one of the things that made us the Empire State. Enhancements to the Peckinpaugh will bring that heritage to hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and their visitors during the Quadricentennial year and years to come. As they are in any older city, upgrades to Albany's roads are important and I am happy that stimulus funds will be made available to completing this necessary work."