ALBANY, NY (08/27/2010)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee today announced the submission of six applications for more than $77.5 million in federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) funding, four sponsored by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and one each co-sponsored by NYSDOT and by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. (ECHDC). The grant applications to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for the second round of TIGER funding, for which there is a deadline for submission of August 23, 2010, have been submitted

"This grant funding would give New York State another opportunity to implement transportation projects that will create jobs and help transform our communities," Governor Paterson said. "We appreciate the U.S. Department of Transportation's serious consideration of our applications and the support we continue to receive from our Congressional Delegation for transportation initiatives that promise to improve mobility, encourage economic development and protect the environment."

"Sound transportation investments help maintain the strength and security of our infrastructure while supporting local economies and providing a framework for long-term growth," State Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee said. "TIGER funding could help us expedite important initiatives that, if funded, will significantly contribute to transportation improvements for the future."

Known as TIGER II, this year's TIGER grant program succeeds last year's initial program, which was financed by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This year's program is not ARRA funded, but its focus remains the same. $600 million in grants is available to government entities for non-aviation transportation projects that have significant, long-term benefits in contributing to a state of good repair for transportation assets, economic competitiveness, livability, sustainability or safety. Projects in urban areas require a 20 percent match in funding, projects in rural areas do not require a match. . Preference will be given to projects that minimize the size of the share of TIGER funding required.

NYSDOT is seeking $75.5 million in TIGER funding for projects whose overall costs total $208 million. The projects include:

• · $17 million in TIGER funding for an $86 million project to extend the Staten Island Expressway Bus/High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane to Victory Boulevard and construct two auxiliary lanes. The improvements will help relieve congestion and trim 15 minutes off the travel time for MTA-New York City Transit express bus services that travel the Staten Island Expressway. The bus lane is one of the busiest in the country, hosting 16,000 riders every week day and serving about 20 percent of Staten Island's commuters;
• · $17.5 million in TIGER funding for a $39 million project to replace the 135-year-old Portageville railroad bridge located in Lechworth State Park. The bridge, owned and operated by Norfolk Southern Railroad, is a key bottleneck for the Southern Tier Route. It has a speed restriction of 10 miles per hour and is unable to handle industry-standard 286,000-pound rail cars. The bridge's replacement would open the Southern Tier Route to increased traffic and would significantly benefit 10 short-line railroads that serve the route. Norfolk Southern and Canadian Pacific Railroad would contribute half of the funding for the project;
• · $20 million for a $37 million project to aid in enforcing NYSDOT's overweight/oversize truck permitting program, as well as to provide real-time communication on truck-related routes and operations. The Wireless Information for Sustainable CommercE and Surface Transportation (WISEST) is a series of projects that would include the construction of virtual weigh station and electronic screening systems to enable detection and reinforcement of size, weight, safety, tax and credentials for commercial vehicles; and the development and construction of transportation information systems that use real-time, wireless vehicle communications technologies, such as cell and GIS-based systems; and
• · $21 million for a $59 million project to improve Interstate 390 and State Routes 15 and 15A in Rochester, Monroe County, in the vicinity of the University of Rochester and Monroe Community College (MCC). The project would create two independent highway interchanges where there is one. It would rehabilitate or reconstruct I-390 in Rochester from the Genesee River to I-590 and rehabilitate or reconstruct numerous bridges, frontage roads and access ramps for Routes 15 and 15A. The project also would include the development of an intermodal bicycle/pedestrian trail that would complete a trail connecting the Rochester Institute of Technology, the University of Rochester and downtown Rochester, the future home of a relocated and expanded MCC. The project would alleviate traffic congestion, enable the University of Rochester to expand its medical school and facilitate other development projects.

In addition to the above four applications, NYSDOT is supporting an application for a $3 million grant for the Transportation and Climate Initiative's (TCI's) electric vehicle planning project. The project would develop a coordinated, multi-state plan for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations across the Northeastern United States. NYSERDA is the lead agency in New York. The initiative is being co-sponsored by the 35 transportation, energy and environmental agencies from 11 states and the District of Columbia.

NYSERDA President and CEO Francis J. Murray, said "Expanding the infrastructure needed to allow electric vehicles to become more commonplace is an important step towards reducing our carbon emissions and our dependency on imported petroleum. We look forward to working with the Department of Transportation at the state and federal levels as well as with our congressional delegation on this initiative that has tremendous potential to protect our environment and create jobs."

NYSDOT also is co-sponsoring ECHDC's application for $2 million toward the completion of a $4.5 million Environmental Impact Statement for the Buffalo Harbor Bridge project, which would construct a bridge in Buffalo to replace the former South Michigan Avenue Bridge. The City of Buffalo removed the bridge in 1964 after the bridge became inoperable.

"For decades Buffalo's urban core has been disconnected from our region's most valuable resource – our waterfront," said Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation Chairman Jordan Levy. "The Buffalo Harbor Bridge will provide an essential link between the reinvestment occurring Downtown and the untapped potential of the Outer Harbor. If Buffalo is to thrive in the 21st century, it must reconnect to the water. I want to thank Governor Paterson and the Department of Transportation for partnering with ECHDC on this vital matter."

U.S. DOT is expected to announce TIGER II grant awards this fall. New York State received an $83 million TIGER grant early this year to help fund the $250 million, first phase development of Moynihan Station in New York City, renovating the historic Farley Post Office for use as a passenger train station in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Station complex. The initial project would improve the rail infrastructure under the Farley Building and Penn Station, including expanding concourses, enhancing subway connections, reducing congestion, improving passenger safety and security and improving access for persons with disabilities.

Additional information about the TIGER II Discretionary Grant Program is available on the NYSDOT Web site at https://www.nysdot.gov/programs/smart-planning/funding/tigerii

###

Posted Friday August 27, 2010 at 02:52 pm by New York State Department of Transportation
Last Updated Friday August 27, 2010 at 04:31 pm