$25.7 Billion Multimodal Program for 2009-2014 Sent to Legislature

New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn today announced that the agency’s five-year capital program for State fiscal years 2009-10 through 2013-14 has been submitted to the Legislature. Submitted a year early in accordance with congestion pricing legislation that was passed last year, it outlines a $25.7 billion plan to sustain the safe, efficient, reliable operation of a modern transportation system. The current plan, covering State fiscal years 2005-06 through 2009-10, is $19.4 billion.

The proposed multimodal transportation program focuses on preserving our investments in the state’s highways and bridges and providing essential support for public transportation, rail, aviation and port facilities.

“This five-year capital program represents a turn-around plan that stabilizes current conditions,” Commissioner Glynn said. “By funding all modes of the transportation system, New York can help promote continued economic development and provide all New Yorkers with the transportation choices they need to enjoy the quality of life they deserve.”

In the face of increasing demand and the aging of the state’s infrastructure, the proposed capital program calls for stabilizing and preserving the multimodal infrastructure through preventive and corrective maintenance and capital construction improvements. In addition, the program identifies cost-effective investments designed to improve the existing transportation system by making it more reliable and more tailored to supporting a growing economy. The program also complements efforts to improve air quality, reduce energy use and encourage smart-growth statewide.

The proposed capital program includes $24.128 billion for the core transportation program, the investments targeted at maximizing the useful life of the existing transportation infrastructure. These core efforts would include maintaining the transportation system in a condition at least equal to current conditions, cost effectively managing the state’s transportation assets and protecting public safety.

The proposed capital program also provides $1.513 billion for eight major construction projects of statewide significance as well as a new, $12 million land-use planning initiative to help communities address their transportation needs comprehensively.

The eight major projects are: converting Route 17 to Interstate 86; repairing and replacing the deck on the Gowanus Expressway in Brooklyn; designing and constructing a new connector road from I-81 to Fort Drum near Watertown, Jefferson County; constructing Section 6 of U.S. Route 219 in Cattaraugus County, implementing border crossing infrastructure improvements; providing additional funding for the Peace Bridge expansion; eliminating, closing or improving highway railroad crossings as part of the Long Island Railroad’s Mainline Corridor Project between Bellerose and Hicksville in Nassau County; and improving the railroad infrastructure on the Empire Line between New York City and the Capital District.

For localities, the core program includes $1.711 billion for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS), which provides state grants for local highway and bridge repair and improvement. The core program also provides $233 million for the Municipal Street and Highway (“Marchiselli”) Program, which helps localities match federal aid. The Marchiselli funding level represents an increase of $35 million over the current plan. An investment of $250 million for a local bridge program is included to continue an initiative proposed in the 2008-09 Executive Budget to enhance the repair and maintenance of local bridges. Finally regarding localities, more than $2.5 billion is estimated as the share of the state’s federal funding that will be utilized for local and other non-state system transportation projects

The program also provides $74 million for enhancements to the core program, investments that will improve the transportation system beyond existing levels. These enhancements include additional CHIPS funding, as well as funding to develop an additional 50 miles of bicycle lanes and resources to expand the electronic systems that monitor and manage highway traffic flows.

Last fall, NYSDOT released an analysis of the state’s transportation needs for the 20-year period from 2010 to 2030. This action was taken not only to define New York’s needs, but also to prepare for 2009’s reauthorization of the federal highway and transit funding programs. NYSDOT, like transportation agencies in other states, has urged the federal government to continue its traditional leadership role and to provide strong support for the transportation system.

Commissioner Glynn said, “For this critical effort to succeed, the federal government will need to be a full partner and provide a significant share of necessary resources.”

Throughout the past month, NYSDOT conducted a series of nine statewide forums to gather public opinion about the content of the five-year program, as well as project and program priorities during the next 20 years. Speakers at the forums discussed capacity issues on our transportation system, the need for increased multimodal travel opportunities and the need to fix an aging infrastructure that is struggling to support its increasing use.

The proposed capital program that has resulted is subject to approval by regional metropolitan planning organizations across the state, organizations designated to approve short and long-range transportation plans under a federally prescribed planning process that includes extensive public outreach.

The plan establishes a series of accomplishment-focused goals, objectives and investment criteria. Highlights include:

· Extending the service life of all highways and bridges across the state, with priority given to facilities that are heavily used. This initiative will use preventive and corrective maintenance strategies to slow facility deterioration and reduce the need for costly future capital investments; · Working with public transportation authorities to replace buses and related equipment as they reach the end of their useful life. The program also calls for increasing the market share for transit and making transit facilities “greener;”

· Making strategic investments in core rail system infrastructure to reduce travel time and enhance frequency of service in key passenger rail corridors;

· Investing in rail and port facilities that, along with our highway and bridge investments, will help give New York’s multimodal transportation system the capacity to efficiently move freight, which has been forecasted to grow significantly;

· Extending the service life of essential aviation facilities through public investments that promote asset preservation and attainment of good infrastructure condition; and

· Establishing energy-efficiency and emission reductions as key criteria for both highway and transit investments.

A copy of NYSDOT’s Multimodal Transportation Program Submission: 2009-2014 is available on the NYSDOT website at https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/programs/5yearcapitalplan.