News from New York State Department of Transportation

For more information contact: Carol Breen, 518-457-6400

NYSDOT Issues Statewide Transportation Improvement Program

Public Comment Period Extends Through Mid-November

ALBANY, NY (11/01/2007; 0949)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn today announced the availability of the draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for federal fiscal years 2008 through 2011. A federal requirement, the document provides a comprehensive list of all highway and transit projects, which for the four-year period totals more than $13 billion in federal funds.

“The Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan is a key planning and programming tool for projects that rely on federal funding, and it is important that interested parties have the chance to review and ask questions about the document,” Commissioner Glynn said. “Improving New York’s transportation infrastructure is a priority for Governor Eliot Spitzer, and securing federal funding is an important step in that process.”

The STIP contains all regional transportation improvement programs and is compiled every two years by NYSDOT and the State’s 13 metropolitan planning organizations. All federally funded and most Metropolitan Transportation Authority funded projects planned for federal fiscal years 2008 through 2011 are included in the plan. In all, the STIP totals approximately $35 billion in projects. More than $13 billion of this amount would come from federal funds. Another $21 billion in non-federally funded projects are included as background information.

As part of the STIP, New York State is required by the Federal Clean Air Act to provide a transportation air quality conformity determination to demonstrate that transportation programs and projects improve air quality in those parts of the State that do not meet health-based air quality standards. For this STIP, each area of the State that does not meet air quality standards has, or is in the process of having, its conformity determination approved by the United States Department of Transportation, in consultation with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The draft STIP will be available for public review and comment for 30 days. Hard copies are available during normal business hours at any of NYSDOT’s 11 regional offices, or at any of the 13 metropolitan planning organization offices. The draft STIP is also available on the NYSDOT Web site at https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/programs/stip/draft-stip-2008-11. Comments regarding the draft STIP can be submitted on-line or in writing to: New York State Department of Transportation, Policy and Planning Division, Program Management Bureau, 50 Wolf Road, 6th Floor, Albany, NY 12232.

NYSDOT will address comments received on the draft STIP in preparing its submission to the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration for review and approval. The draft STIP is expected to be submitted in November.

A list of locations of all NYDOT regional offices and metropolitan planning organization offices across the State is attached.

-0-

NYSDOT Regional Offices

1. 328 STATE STREET, SCHENECTADY, NY 12305, (518) 388-0388

2. UTICA STATE OFFICE BUILDING, 207 GENESEE STREET, UTICA, NY 13501, (315) 793-2447

3. SEN. JOHN H. HUGHES STATE OFFICE BUILDING, 333 EAST WASHINGTON STREET, SYRACUSE, NY 13202, (315) 428-4351

4. 1530 JEFFERSON ROAD, ROCHESTER, NY 14623-3161, (585) 272-3310

5. 100 SENECA STREET, BUFFALO, NY 14203, (716) 847-3238

6. 107 BROADWAY, HORNELL, NY 14843, (607) 324-8404

7. DULLES STATE OFFICE BUILDING, 317 WASHINGTON STREET, WATERTOWN, NY 13601, (315) 785-2333

8. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT STATE OFFICE BUILDING, 4 BURNETT BOULEVARD, POUGHKEEPSIE, NY 12603-2594, (914) 431-5750

9. 44 HAWLEY STREET, BINGHAMTON, NY 13901, (607) 721-8116

10. NEW YORK STATE OFFICE BUILDING, 250 VETERANS MEMORIAL HIGHWAY, HAUPPAUGE, NY 11788-5518, (516) 952-6632

11. ONE HUNTERS POINT PLAZA, 47-40 21ST STREET, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101, (718) 482-4526

NYS METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS – CENTRAL STAFF OFFICES

• Aaron Frankenfeld, Transportation Planning Director; Adirondack-Glens Falls Trans. Council (AGFTC); Washington County Municipal Center, Room A-31; Fort Edward, NY 12828; Phone: (518) 746-2199; Fax: (518) 746-2441; E-mail: afrankenfeld@co.washington.ny.us; Website: http://www.agftc.org;

• Steven Gayle, Staff Director; Binghamton Metro. Trans. Study (BMTS); P.O. Box 1766 Government Plaza; Binghamton, NY 13902; Phone: (607) 778-2443; Fax: (607) 778-6051; E-mail: bmts@co.broome.ny.us; Website: www.bmtsonline.org

• John Poorman, Staff Director; Capital District Trans. Committee (CDTC); One Park Plaza; Albany, NY 12205; Phone: (518) 458-2161; Fax: (518) 459-2155; E-mail: jpoorman@cdtcmpo.org Website: www.cdtcmpo.org

• Mr. Jay Schissell, Director; Elmira-Chemung Transportation Council (ECTC); 400 East Church Street; Elmira, NY 14901; Phone: (607) 737-5510; Fax: (607) 737-5512 E-mail: ectc@stny.rr.com Website: www.elmirampo.org

• Mr. Richard Perrin, Executive Director; Genesee Transportation Council (GTC); 50 West Main Street, Suite 8112; Rochester, NY 14614-1227; Phone: (585) 232-6240; Fax: (585) 262-3106; E-mail: Rperrin@gtcmpo.org; Website: www.gtcmpo.org

• Mr. Hal Morse, Director; Continuing Trans. Planning Staff; Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council (GBNRTC); 438 Main Street, 5th Floor; Buffalo, NY 14202; Phone: (716) 856-2026; Fax: (716) 856-3203; E-mail: hmorse@gbnrtc.org; Website: www.gbnrtc.org

• Mr. William Tobin, Principal Transportation Planner; Ulster County Transp. Council (UCTC); 244 Fair Street, PO Box 1800; Kingston, NY 12402-0800; Phone: (845)340-3340; Fax: (845)340-3429; E-mail: wtob@co.ulster.ny.us; Website: http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/planning/tran.html

• Mr. Harry J. Miller, Program Manager; Herkimer-Oneida County Trans. Study (HOCTS); 321 Main Street; Utica, NY 13501; Phone: (315) 798-5037; Fax: (315) 798-5852; E-mail: hmiller@co.oneida.ny.us; Website: http://www.ocgov.net/hoctsmpo/transportation.html

• Fernando deAragon, Director; Ithaca Tompkins County Trans. Council (ITCTC); 121 East Court Street; Ithaca, NY 14850; Phone: (607) 274-5570; Fax: (607) 274-5578; E-mail: ITCTC@tompkins-co.org; Website: www.tompkins-co.org/itctc/

• Mr. John Czamanske, Deputy Commissioner; Orange County Department of Planning; Orange County Transportation Council (OCTC); 124 Main Street, 1887 Building; Goshen, NY 10924; Phone: (845)291-2318; Fax: (845)291-2533; E-mail: jczamanske@co.orange.ny.us; Website: www.co.orange.ny.us/planning

• Mr. Joel Ettinger, Executive Director; New York Metropolitan Trans. Council (NYMTC); 199 Water Street, 22nd Floor; New York, New York 10038; Phone: (212) 383-7236; Fax: (212) 383-2418; E-mail: jettinger@dot.state.ny.us; Website: www.nymtc.org

• Ms. M. Kealy Salomon, MPO Coordinator; Poughkeepsie-Dutchess Co. Trans. Council (PDCTC); 27 High Street; Poughkeepsie, NY 12601; Phone: (845) 486-3600; Fax: (845) 486-3610; E-mail: ksalomon@co.dutchess.ny.us; Website: www.dutchessny.gov/pdctc.htm

• Mr. James D’Agostino, Director; Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council (SMTC); 100 Clinton Square; 126 N. Salina Street, Suite 100; Syracuse, NY 13202; Phone: (315) 422-5716; Fax: (315) 422-7753; E-mail: jdagostino@SMTCMPO.org; Website: www.smtcmpo.org

-30-