Senator Terry Gipson Holds Pudding St. Project Public Forum WITH Local and State Officials

Terry Gipson

August 15, 2013

For Immediate Release: August 15, 2013
Media Contact: Jonathan Heppner | 845.463.0840 | heppner@nysenate.gov

SENATOR TERRY GIPSON HOLDS PUDDING ST. PROJECT PUBLIC FORUM
WITH LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS

PUTNAM VALLEY, NY – After securing $1 million in federal funding to assess the Pudding Street/Taconic project in Putnam Valley, N.Y.,Senator Terry Gipson (D-Dutchess, Putnam), in collaboration with local and state officials, held a public forum on August 14, 2013 to discuss the project. Putnam Valley Supervisor Robert Tendy, Putnam County Legislator Sam Oliverio, representatives from the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and a representative from the office of Assemblyman Steve Katz joined Senator Gipson.

“I organized this public forum to give town officials and local residents an opportunity to ask the NYSDOT questions about the Pudding Street Project,” said Senator Gipson. “After securing the funding for the engineering study, this is another important step in the process. I’m pleased that we have achieved these necessary steps in my first seven months of office. There is nothing more important than the safety of our residents, and we will continue to work make sure this intersection is made safe.”

The intersection of Pudding Street and the Taconic State Parkway is the last remaining grade-level crossing on the Parkway in Putnam County. School buses cross the heavily traveled Taconic up to 20 times daily and residents are concerned about the safety of their children. An overpass was first planned in 2003, but has been delayed because of fiscal modifications to NYSDOT’s project schedules.

The public forum included: a review of the overpass request, traffic/safety conditions on the ground from the municipal perspective, a project overview from NYSDOT personnel, and a community question and answer session with NYSDOT personnel.

“Thank you, Senator Gipson for organizing this public forum, and NYSDOT for participating. I will continue to champion for the completion of this project,” said Supervisor Tendy.

“I want to thank Senator Gipson for his leadership in getting this project off the ground and continuing to move it forward. The Pudding Street project will make Putnam Valley a safer community,” said Putnam County Legislator Oliverio.

Concluded Senator Gipson, “I want to thank Governor Cuomo and the NYSDOT for their continued assistance and cooperation. I’m committed to continuing to place our constituents' interests first and partner with state and local officials to get this project done.”

--CLICK HERE FOR PUBLISHABLE PHOTOS--