First stimulus funds to repair Commercial Drive, bridges

Officials question chosen projects


Observer-Dispatch
Posted Feb 24, 2009 @ 10:22 AM
Last update Feb 24, 2009 @ 12:52 PM

Repairs to Commercial Drive, Route 69 and a bridge in Little Falls are among the area’s first federal stimulus projects, Gov. David Paterson’s Office said Monday.

The projects, which were among $41 million worth of projects submitted to the Federal Highway Administration, were selected because they were “100-percent shovel ready,” Paterson spokeswoman Erin Duggan said.

“The projects announced today represent just a small number of the opportunities that will be funded with the economic recovery dollars,” Paterson said in a statement. “This will be an open process with significant local input, and will create jobs across the state at a time when New York is facing widespread unemployment.”

The local projects include:

* Resurfacing Commercial Drive from Oriskany Boulevard to Symeon’s restaurant. 

* Resurfacing Route 69 in Oneida County from Clinton Street in Whitestown to Monument Road in Oriskany.

* Rehabilitating the Route 169 bridge over the Erie Canal in Little Falls

* Bridge repairs and maintenance in Oneida and Herkimer counties.

The Commercial Drive and Route 69 projects have a combined price tag of $2.5 million and the Little Falls project $1.3 million, state Department of Transportation regional spokeswoman Alice Romanych said.

The bridge projects have not yet been announced, she said.

Several local officials Monday questioned if those projects were the ones that were most needed in the area.

“I think one of the problems with the stimulus package is it’s more routine maintenance stuff than making long term infrastructure improvements that will help grow the economy,” Steve DiMeo, President of Mohawk Valley EDGE economic development agency said.

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente said he was glad those projects were getting funded, but he worried that the quick turnaround time would hurt the funding chances of projects with greater economic development vision.

“It narrows the scope of what you’re able to put on the table,” he said.

Picente and Whitestown Supervisor Chuck Gibbs said if they had to choose a road project to get started on, it would be extending Route 840 from Halsey Road to Route 233.

“If you ever saw the road the sides are just absolutely crumbling,” said Gibbs. “Sixty-nine is more heavily traveled, but I think people aren’t taking 840 because of the condition of that road.”

But many other projects would be funded as well, and local input played a role in the current selection and would in the future as well, Duggan said.

First projects

Contractors could bid on the initial 11 upstate road, bridge and drainage projects as early as March 5.

“It’s use it or lose it,” Paterson said. “That’s what we’ll adhere to sternly.”

Al Tahan, president of Joe Tahan’s Furniture, which has a location on the part of Commercial Drive to be resurfaced, said he hoped the project wouldn’t block customers from coming to his store or kick up too much dust.

“If it was up to me, there are a lot worse roads that need paving than that,” he said. “Hopefully the pain will be short lived and in the long run it will be better.”

Herkimer County Administrator James Wallace also pointed to other projects he felt were higher priorities such as upgrades to Route 5S between Frankfort and Herkimer.

“I’m very hopeful that in the second round that would be considered,” he said.
State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, said he would work to ensure local officials got as much input in the stimulus process as possible.

“They may have a rationale, but with appropriate input that rationale would be improved,” he said.

The Paterson administration has set up a Web site (www.economicrecovery.ny.gov/) as part of what it considers a transparent process that includes posting decisions, updates, explanations and ways of submitting proposals. Paterson also has a “stimulus cabinet” of state officials helping local officials spread the federal aid statewide while keeping lawmakers informed.

Paterson and lawmakers warned that New York’s worsening fiscal crisis won’t be solved by the $24.5 billion in stimulus funds due over the next two years for job creation, tax breaks, and education.