Griffo Secures Funds for Utica Road Repairs

UTICA – Sen. Joseph A. Griffo today announced that he has secured $600,000 for the City of Utica to pay for repairing two roads.

“The deep freeze of this past winter was hard on many local roads, resulting in craters and cracks that have frustrated motorists who use these streets daily,” said Griffo, R-Rome. “I suggested – and was pleased to see – a $40 million ‘winter weather’ fund included in this year’s state budget to help all our local communities repair their roads.”

Griffo added: “The city of Utica needed additional money, independent of its CHIPS and winter weather allocations, to take care of two of its most used roads. I agreed this was a project worthy of state funds. I was happy to advocate on their behalf and secure this funding, so they didn’t have to contemplate raising taxes or cutting other services to help motorists travel safely.”

“I thank Senator Griffo for listening to the city’s concerns, stepping up to the plate and delivering much needed funding to help the city implement its road improvement plan,” said Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri. “Through strong partnerships we are improving the quality of life for the residents of Utica.”

"The citizens of Utica are lucky to have Joe Griffo fighting for us in Albany,” said 4^th Ward Councilman Joe Marino. “We are at a crossroads in development for this city, and maintaining and improving our infrastructure is critical to re-building Utica, so I thank Senator Griffo’s hard work and dedication to our city."

The projects are as follows:

• $240,000 to mill and resurface Genesee Street, from Ballantyne Brae to Arnold Street.
• $190,000 to mill and resurface Genesee Street, from Eagle Street to Cornelia Street.
• $170,000 to mill and resurface Memorial Parkway, from Sherman Drive to Zoo Road.

 
The money will come from a state multi-modal transportation fund, administered by the state Department of Transportation.

Griffo believes infrastructure improvements represent one of the best returns on investment of taxpayer dollars. Recently, the senator suggested using a substantial portion of the $3.3 billion BNP Paribas bank settlement to tend to badly-needed upgrades to state highways and bridges.