Governor Cuomo Announces Accelerated Road and Bridge Projects on Long Island as Part of NY Works Program

GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES ACCELERATED ROAD AND BRIDGE PROJECTS ON LONG ISLAND AS PART OF NY WORKS PROGRAM

$40,686,000 Investment to Repair 86 Miles of Roads and Six Bridges


Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced an additional and accelerated $40,686,000 investment for nine NY Works projects that will repair 86 miles of roads and six bridges on Long Island. For the transportation component of NY Works, the Department of Transportation (DOT) reviewed its Capital Program and identified those projects, which can be accelerated by utilizing either the conventional design-bid-build project delivery mechanism or the newly-enacted design-build project delivery method.

NY Works will reinvent state economic development with an innovative new strategy that will put New Yorkers back to work rebuilding the state's infrastructure. The Task Force will create tens of thousands of jobs by coordinating comprehensive capital plans, overseeing all investment in infrastructure projects, and accelerating hundreds of critical projects across the state.

"For the second straight year, New York State has worked and passed a balanced and transformative budget based on fiscal responsibility, job creation, government efficiency," Governor Cuomo said. "The cornerstone of this budget is the New York Works program, a new and smarter strategy for putting New Yorkers back to work by rebuilding our aging infrastructure and helping put our state's economy back on track, just the way we have put our state government back on track. This significant investment will rebuild the foundation of the region's economy and create thousands of jobs for New Yorkers."

Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos said, "NY Works will build on the positive changes we've made to create a more business-friendly State and get New Yorkers back to work. The projects being supported by this program will be tremendously effective in creating new private sector jobs, investing in critical infrastructure, stimulating new business, and building a stronger economy for us all. I applaud the Governor for his leadership on this issue."

State Senator Owen H. Johnson said, "I am pleased to be working with Governor Cuomo to bring jobs to Long Island. Through the NY Works Project, contracts will be consolidated for each region of the state, saving time and money. Projects specific to Long Island, that had previously been delayed due to resource constraints, will now move forward, immediately creating jobs for people in the construction trades to begin the process of repairing our roads and bridges."

State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle said, "The NY Works Program will bring millions of dollars to the First Senatorial District for road and bridge construction, infrastructure rehabilitation and dredging projects. The State will now undertake much needed repairs and that means contracts for local companies and jobs for local residents."

State Senator Carl L. Marcellino said, "From rebuilding college campuses, to funding transportation projects and upgrading aging sewer treatment plants, the New York Works Program, will address essential infrastructure needs while spurring economic development opportunities. Creating private sector jobs to improve the quality of life in communities throughout New York State."

State Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., Chairman of the Senate's Transportation Committee, said, "Creating jobs, economic development, and rebuilding our infrastructure are three critical priorities. We've addressed all of them through NY Works. Smarter investment and improved coordination of state resources will help accelerate much needed infrastructure projects and maximize their economic development benefits. I'm pleased that the Legislature and Governor Cuomo worked together on this important program to create jobs, grow our economy, and make our transportation infrastructure stronger and safer."

State Senator John Flanagan said, "By working together, the Legislature and Governor Cuomo approved an on-time budget that provided real solutions to the economic issues facing our state and this program is one of the cornerstones of that effort. By creating much-needed jobs while also solving some of our long-standing infrastructure issues, NY Works utilizes our limited state funding in a way that will maximize its benefit and that is essential in times like these."

State Senator Jack M. Martins said, "The NY Works projects will utilize capital funds for much needed road improvement projects. The program represents a common sense approach to repairing our roads and bridges efficiently. The funding will improve our state's infrastructure while also creating jobs to stimulate our economy."

"The time is now to make improvements in New York's aging infrastructure. This accelerated funding through the New York Works Program will make our roads and bridges safer for traveling. And this added investment will bring much-needed jobs for our working families," said Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Earlene Hooper.

"The funding included in the state budget will improve the traveling conditions of our roads and bridges, safeguarding our residents and visitors. Equally important, this is a major investment in our economy," said Assemblyman Robert K. Sweeney. "This vital infrastructure investment will also result in the creation of much need jobs in New York State."

The Budget continues the Governor's commitment to fiscal responsibility while creating jobs and strengthening communities across the state. It closes a multi-billion dollar deficit with no new taxes, fees or gimmicks, limits spending growth to two percent or below for the second year in a row, and launches the NY Works Task Force to invest billions of dollars to rebuild the state's roads, bridges, parks, and other infrastructure and create tens of thousands of jobs.

The Budget includes key economic development and transportation initiatives, important reforms to improve government efficiency, and measures to strengthen communities across the state.


NY Works

Establishes the NY Works Task Force

The NY Works Task Force will coordinate capital plans across 45 agencies and authorities, oversee investment in projects and access to funding, and facilitate the creation of tens of thousands of jobs.

Prior to the NY Works initiative, there was no comprehensive state plan for the $16 billion in annual capital expenditures by 45 state agencies and authorities. In some cases, including with respect to projects by the Port Authority, the MTA, and the Department of Transportation, billions of dollars of taxpayer or commuter funds were being used to fund transportation plans in the same region with no coordination between the agencies. For the first time, the NY Works Task Force will develop a coordinated capital infrastructure plan among agencies and authorities. The Task Force, made up of leaders in finance, labor, planning and transportation will also recommend financing options for projects and methods to accelerate construction of critical infrastructure.

The NY Works Task Force will consist of fifteen members. Nine of the members will be appointed by the Governor and six by the Legislature. All major state agencies and authorities will participate in an implementation council to coordinate capital planning.

All NY Works projects will be posted on the web with real-time updates so that New Yorkers can track the progress of projects in their community. The full list will be posted online over the next several days.

Rebuild Roads and Bridges

The Budget funds the NY Works program with $247 million in state capital funds and $917 million in new Federal funds for a total of $1.2 billion in new spending to accelerate repair, replacement and improvement of deficient roads and bridges. This funding is over and above the $1.6 billion already allocated this year to the core transportation capital program for road and bridge projects. This program is in addition to the advancement of the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement project that will inject billions more into the regional and state economy.

The additional $1.2 billion in accelerated projects will include: $212 million to address bridge deck and structural replacement or rehabilitation needs on approximately 115 bridges; $250 million for more than 2,000 miles of low cost pavement preservation and pavement treatments; and $687 million for transportation projects of regional or statewide significance throughout the state that had been delayed due to resource constraints.

The NY Works Accelerated Bridge and Pavement Preservation program will expedite projects to immediately create jobs, address critical infrastructure needs, and achieve savings. The Accelerated Bridge and Pavement Preservation program represents a different way of doing business for New York State. Rather than executing 100 different contracts for 100 different bridges, projects will be consolidated under regional contracts – a more efficient process that will enable the state to complete critical projects on time and on budget.

As part of the NY Works program, the Accelerated Bridge program is an innovative capital program delivery approach designed to reduce the backlog of deficient bridges in New York State that require replacement. The program will rehabilitate or replace many bridges over a quick time frame resulting in eliminating future maintenance costs as well as create thousands of constructions jobs and stimulate the New York State economy. Currently, 2,500 or 32 percent of the State's bridges are rated deficient. The bridges will be bundled into six statewide Design-Bid-Build contracts and four Design-Build contracts in four geographic areas: Long Island, Hudson Valley, Central and Western New York, and the North Country and Capital Region.

In addition, NY Works establishes a $250 million investment in a Pavement Preservation program that will improve nearly 2,000 additional lane miles of pavement conditions, which is equivalent to a round trip from New York City to Orlando, Florida. Forty percent of the state's pavement surfaces are rated deficient. Similar to the Accelerated Bridge program, paving and resurfacing contracts will be let throughout the State, creating jobs in every region.

The accelerated NY Works Transportation Projects in Long Island are as follows:

Region Program Project Name Project Description Total Project Cost
Long Island Bridges Bridge Parapet Replacements in Towns of Babylon, Hempstead & Islip, Nassau & Suffolk Co's. The project will reconstruct and bring the original Robert Moses era parapets up to current standards at 16 locations that span nine bridges on the Meadowbrook and Southern State Parkways. This effort will renew and preserve the historic parkway bridges in a sustainable manner by retaining their unique character and aesthetic appeal while bringing them in-line with the 21st century transportation use and safety standards. This project demonstrates how new and existing bridge materials can be blended to achieve a more sustainable design that balances the need for safety and historic preservation without significantly increasing construction costs.  $16,000,000 
Long Island Bridges Hempstead Turnpike (Rte 24) Over the vehicle-pedstrain access road to Belmont Park, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County Deck Replacement $2,200,000 
Long Island Bridges Pinelawn Road Over LIE,Town of Huntington, Suffolk County Deck Replacement $5,500,000 
Long Island Bridges Ronkonkoma Ave over I-495 in Town of Broookhaven Deck Replacement $5,200,000 
Long Island Bridges Waverly Ave over I-495 in the town of Brookhaven  Deck Replacement $2,800,000 
Long Island Bridges Great Neck Rd over Rt 27 in the Town of Babylon Deck Replacement $4,500,000 
Long Island Roads Meadowbrook State Parkway Mill & Fill Merrick Rd to Southern State Parkway - Nassau County - 16.38Mi Pavement Preservation Treatment $4,990,000 
Long Island Roads NY25A Mill & Fill Bread & Cheese Hollow Rd to Sunken Meadow State Parkway - Suffolk County - 5Mi Pavement Preservation Treatment $3,806,000 
Long Island Roads I495 Concrete Pavement Repair Exit 68 to Exit 73 - Suffolk County - 64.68Mi Pavement Preservation Treatment $8,890,000 

Specific criteria for including a project in the NY Works Fund are as follows:

Accelerated bridge projects:

• It is on the State deficient bridge list.
• Projects that can begin construction in 2012 to immediately reduce the number of deficient bridges.
• Eligible for federal funding.
• Approximately 110 bridges can be rebuilt under the accelerated program.
• Half of the projects will use the State's new "design-build" authority to speed project completion

Accelerated pavement preservation projects:
• Statewide roadway segments rated fair or poor
• Best and lowest cost treatments, such single course overlay, mill and fill, etc.
• Eligible for federal funding.
• 2000 miles of road repaired

Accelerated regional projects:

• Projects of regional significance were programmed for outer years only because of lack of funds, but can be accelerated into 2012 to immediately create jobs, deal with critical infrastructure and yield savings.