Gov. Hochul announces $516M in infrastructure funding

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the award of more than $516 million in enhanced assistance for 141 local governments to rehabilitate and replace bridges and culverts while supporting resiliency and sustainability in every region of the state. This funding, provided through the State’s BRIDGE NY initiative, is aimed at helping local governments across the state harden their existing infrastructure while boosting the resiliency of bridges and culverts in the state. The State’s BRIDGE NY initiative supports projects that combat climate change by reducing the risk of flooding, improves the resiliency of structures, facilitates regional economic competitiveness and prioritizes projects that benefit environmental justice communities.
 
“New York State is making historic investments to modernize our infrastructure and we are committed to working with our partners in local government to help ensure that their bridges and culverts are ready to meet the challenges of global climate change,” Governor Hochul said. “The BRIDGE NY program provides essential funding directly to local governments to enhance the safety, resiliency, sustainability and reliability of local infrastructure, allowing more than 140 bridges to better withstand extreme weather events and keep New Yorkers safe.”
 
Today’s announcement builds upon the more than $716 million that has previously been awarded to local governments under the BRIDGE NY initiative. As part of the State’s historic, $32.8 billion capital plan adopted last year, $1 billion was committed to BRIDGE NY, effectively doubling the size of the program. The awards announced today were selected based on input from Regional and Metropolitan Planning Organizations and the funding will support all phases of project delivery, including design, right-of-way acquisition and construction.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “New York’s infrastructure, especially at the local level, is among the oldest in the country, which makes investments like BRIDGE NY that harden our local infrastructure and invest in resiliency and sustainability so critically important to the Empire State’s future.  The safety and reliability of our transportation infrastructure is vital to the health and economic well-being of our local communities and no state is doing more to support them than New York under Governor Hochul’s leadership. The BRIDGE NY funding we are announcing today will provide critically important financial support to local governments to help make our infrastructure more sustainable and our communities stronger.”

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez made this announcement at a press conference this afternoon with local officials on the Railroad Street Bridge over the Mohawk River and the CSX railroad in the Town of Frankfort, Herkimer County. The bridge, built in 1981, is receiving more than $2.5 million for a rehabilitation project to make the structure safer and more resilient.

New York State County Highway Superintendents Association President Kevin Rooney, P.E. said, “Considering that local governments are responsible for the maintenance of 87% of the roads and over half the bridges in the state, BRIDGE NY funding is vital to county highway departments’ efforts to maintain, rehabilitate and enhance the resiliency of our vast systems of bridges and culverts on these local roads.. Now, thanks to the Governor’s budget initiatives, the newest Five-Year Transportation Capital Plan and support from legislative leaders, funding levels for BRIDGE NY have doubled. This will enable counties to address more of these critical infrastructure needs that otherwise would be unfunded or delayed. NYSCHSA commends Governor Kathy Hochul and Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez for their partnership and strong support of state funding for local road and bridge programs for the benefit and safety of the traveling public.”

New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways President David Miller said, “On behalf of the New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways, the state’s largest transportation association, I’d like to thank Governor Hochul and NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez for their steadfast support of local infrastructure through the BRIDGE NY program. This program which is specifically dedicated to local bridges and culverts is essential for our local governments. New York needs to continue to make investments to build our economy and protect the safety of our traveling public.  We look forward to working with our state officials to maintain and increase these investments as we move toward completing the current five-year capital program.”

State Senator Tim Kennedy said, “New York’s harsh winters and high volume of roadway users take a toll on our infrastructure, and this massive state investment will reinforce the safety of these structures and ensure that connectivity and sustainability remains a priority throughout the transportation corridors in our communities. By proactively supporting this routine maintenance, we’re not just strengthening our bridges and culverts, but we’re investing in our greater economy and the workforce that relies on this infrastructure daily.”

State Senator Mark Walczyk said, “Assisting local government in strengthening and protecting critical infrastructure such as bridges and culverts is vital for the State of New York. I’m glad to see the continued investment in our communities and I’m thankful for this BRIDGE NY announcement to be made in the beautiful Mohawk Valley.” 

Assemblymember Robert Smullen said, “The state’s BRIDGE NY initiative funding will help support the preservation and resiliency of our local communities well into the future. I am glad to see resources returned from the state to our communities and will continue to work with the Department of Transportation to ensure our pressing needs are met with taxpayer dollars.”

Town of Schuyler Supervisor Anthony Lucenti said, “The Town of Schuyler is very pleased to be awarded the Bridge NY Grant. The Frankfort-Schuyler Bridge not only connects 2 towns, but provides critical access to Routes 5 and 5S, thereby functioning to ease commute times, shorten bus routes, and expediting emergency response vehicles. However, after 40 plus years of heavy use the bridge is in need of a major rehabilitation. Repair issues are costly and challenging as the bridge crosses the Barge Canal and CSX Railroad. It’s not as easy as it looks. For two small towns owning a major bridge the only option has been to do small repairs on an as needed basis. This much needed grant will assure a complete rehabilitation of the Frankfort-Schuyler Bridge and provide all commuters in the Mohawk Valley, using the bridge, safe travel for years to come. Through the consolidated efforts of both the Towns of Frankfort and Schuyler, along with support from elected officials and guidance from the NYS DOT we were able to “bridge our differences” and jointly work together to solve a critical transportation issue.”

We are committed to working with our partners in local government to help ensure that their bridges and culverts are ready to meet the challenges of global climate change.”

Governor Kathy Hochul

The BRIDGE NY awards include $68.8 million in funding in Western New York:

• $1.762 million to Cattaraugus County for the replacement of the Toad Hollow Road bridge over Eddyville Creek.
• $1.862 million to Cattaraugus County for the superstructure replacement of the Union Valley Road bridge over Olean Creek.
• $1.572 million to Town of Ellicottville for the replacement of the Kruse Road bridge over Beaver Meadows Creek, Cattaraugus County.
• $1.174 million to the Town of Olean for the replacement of the Godfrey Hollow Road culvert carrying the tributary to Godfrey Hollow Branch, Cattaraugus County.
• $1.488 million to the Town of Great Valley for the replacement of the Snow Brook Road culvert carrying the tributary to Willoughby Creek, Cattaraugus County.
• $1.023 million to the Town of Ellicottville for the replacement of the Crane Road culvert carrying the tributary to Bryant Hill Creek, Cattaraugus County.
• $1.287 million to the Town of Carrollton for the replacement of the Main Street culvert carrying the tributary to Leonard Brook, Cattaraugus County.
• $1.974 million to Chautauqua County for the replacement of the Wiltsie Road bridge over Frew Run.
• $1.891 million to Chautauqua County for the replacement of the Summit Avenue bridge over tributary to Chautauqua Lake.
• $2.115 million to Chautauqua County for the replacement of the Kiantone Road bridge over Stillwater Creek.
• $1.64 million to the Town of Villenova for the replacement of the North Hill Road bridge over the tributary to the West Branch of Conewango Creek, Chautauqua County.
• $561,000 to Chautauqua County for the replacement of the Central Avenue culvert carrying Crooked Brook.
• $969,000 to the Town of Pomfret for the replacement of the Porter Avenue culvert carrying the inlet to Canadaway Creek, Chautauqua County.
• $1.451 million to the Town of Carroll for the replacement of the Wheeler Hill Road culvert carrying Frews Run, Chautauqua County.
• $2.024 million to the City of Tonawanda for the replacement of the Fletcher Street bridge over Two Mile Creek, Erie County.
• $1.827 million to Erie County for the replacement of the Dennis Road bridge over Little Sister Creek.
• $4.75 million to Erie County for the replacement of the Mill Road bridge over Cazenovia Creek.
• $2.953 million to Erie County for the replacement of the East Eden Road bridge over Hampton Brook.
• $4.75 million to Erie County for the replacement of the Hammond Hill Road bridge over Cattaraugus Creek.
• $2.288 million to Erie County for the replacement of the Marshfield Road bridge over N. Bridge Clear Creek.
• $1.432 million to the Town of Clarence for the replacement of the Kenfield Road bridge over Black Creek, Erie County.
• $701,000 to the Town of Eden for the replacement of the Larkin Road culvert carrying the tributary to Franklin Gulf, Erie County.
• $991,000 to the Town of Holland for the replacement of the Day Road culvert carrying the tributary to Hunter Creek Tributary, Erie County.
• $800,000 to the Town of Lancaster for the replacement of the Siebert Road culvert, Erie County.
• $958,000 to Erie County for the replacement of the Milestrip Road culvert carrying the tributary to Muddy Creek.
• $861,000 to Erie County for the replacement of the Milestrip Road culvert carrying tributary to Delaware Creek.
• $798,000 to the Town of Amherst for the replacement of the Reist Street culvert carrying the tributary to Ellicott Creek, Erie County.
• $536,000 to the Town of West Seneca for the replacement of the Greymont Avenue culvert carrying the tributary to Ebenezer Brook, Erie County.
• $1.706 million to Niagara County for the replacement of the Route 271 bridge over Branch Jeddo Creek.
• $1.575 million to Niagara County for the replacement of the Carmen Road bridge over Golden Hill Creek.
• $2.3 million to the Town of Wheatfield for the replacement of the Plaza Drive bridge over Bergholz Creek, Niagara County.
• $784,000 to Niagara County for the replacement of the Balmer Road culvert carrying the tributary to Twelve Mile Creek.
• $867,000 to Niagara County for the replacement of the Ransomville Road culvert carrying the tributary to Twelve Mile Creek.
• $871,000 to the Town of Cambria for the replacement of the Baer Road culvert carrying the tributary to Twelve Mile Creek, Niagara County.
• $860,000 to the Town of Lockport for the replacement of the East High Street culvert, Niagara County.
• $2.724 million to Allegany County for the rehabilitation of the County Road 31 bridge over Van Campen Creek.
• $6.635 million to Allegany County for the rehabilitation of the County Road 4 bridge over the Genesee River.
• $1.799 million to Allegany County for the replacement of the Karr Valley Road culvert carrying the tributary to Karr Valley Creek.
• $2.207 million to Allegany County for the replacement of the Middaugh Hill Road culvert carrying the tributary to Gordon Brook.

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