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Construction-Group Chief Calls For Broad Support of $2.9 Billion Transportation Bond Act

Posted on: Tuesday, 19 July 2005, 12:01 CDT

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., July 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The head of the largest transportation-industry trade group in downstate New York today urged state leaders to work together to campaign for approval of a $2.9-billion transportation bond act included in a five-year, $35.8-billion transportation- spending program called for in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed last week by state leaders. The bond faces a statewide referendum in November.

"All transportation interest groups must come together and campaign hard throughout the summer and fall so that state voters understand the urgent need to approve this bond act in November," said Ross J. Pepe, president of The Construction Industry Council of Westchester and the Hudson Valley, Inc., headquartered here. "It is a sensible and effective plan to repair and improve our systems, grow the economy and create thousands of jobs for New York workers and companies."

During the past several months, transportation construction industry interest groups had pressed state leaders to hammer out a final agreement. A centerpiece of the spending package is a $2.9 billion transportation bond proposal that will be subject to voter approval this November. The proceeds of the bond would be evenly split between New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) projects. The bond act would inject an extra $200 million into the Westchester-Hudson Valley region's economy over the life of the bond.

The five-year plan announced on July 13 includes a $17.9 billion transportation capital plan administered by NYSDOT and a $17.9 billion MTA capital plan. The program will run from the current 2005-2006 fiscal year through the first three months of 2010. It will help the state maintain and improve many elements of New York's transportation infrastructure, including local roads and bridges, transit systems, the state's freight and passenger rail network, airports, canals, and ferry and port facilities, according to the MOU.

The following are some of the major downstate projects that will be financed as part of the five-year transportation plan or by the bond act, if approved by voters in November:

* $60.6 million for completion of the last in a series of operational and safety improvements on Interstate 287, the Cross Westchester Expressway. The project will run from Greenburgh into the City of White Plains. * $91 million for the renovation of I-287 from Bloomingdale Road to Route 120 in White Plains and Harrison. * $58.6 million for reconstruction of I-287 in Rockland County. * $81.5 million (including $40 million from bond act) to complete improvements at the Exit 122 interchange on Route 17 in Orange County, bringing the interchange up to the standards necessary for designation as part of Interstate 86. * $20.8 million (from the bond act) for improvements on Route 9W at Short Clove Road in Haverstraw in Rockland County. * $171 million to make improvements to the Kew Gardens Interchange, which links the Van Wyck Expressway (Interstate 678), Jackie Robinson Parkway and Grand Central Parkway in Queens. * $110 million to reduce truck congestion on Long Island by improving rail freight access.

Many leading construction-trade organizations, including the CIC, lobbied state lawmakers to pass the transportation plan so several key projects could begin before the current construction season comes to a close. "The next step is to make sure the bond act passes," said Rep. Richard Brodsky (D-Greenburgh), an early supporter of the bond proposal. "The future of our transportation system depends on the passage of the bond act."

ABOUT THE CIC: The Construction Industry Council of Westchester and the Hudson Valley, Inc. is a 650-member construction and building industry trade association.

Construction Industry Council of Westchester & the Hudson Valley, Inc.

CONTACT: David Johnston, of MCM, +1-845-352-3650

Source: PRNewswire

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