U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand today announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) is awarding $250 million in federal funding to the Nassau, Suffolk, New York City and New York State for reimbursements for repairs to various federal-aid eligible highways damaged by Superstorm Sandy. The funding is authorized through the Emergency Relief program within the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island have reported approximately $100 million in damage to federal-aid eligible roads, such as Ocean Parkway, Robert Moses Causeway, Long Island Expressway and Asharoken Avenue. Schumer and Gillibrand today revealed the roadways on Long Island that being expeditiously funded by the DOT after they were damaged by Superstorm Sandy.
Normally reimbursements such as these can take months or years, but in this case, it will be expedited because the Sandy relief legislation provided $2 billion in funding for the FHWA Emergency Relief program. The expedited reimbursements will allow construction to move forward quicker, prevent local taxpayers from being on the hook for interest payments, and allow other construction projects to begin.
“Local governments laid out tens of millions of dollars to fix roads and get traffic moving again, and these quick reimbursements means that taxpayers won’t be left out to dry,” said Schumer. “DOT is getting the money out the door quicker than it ever has before, and governments, tax payers, drivers and pedestrians will see the benefit.”
“This is the right move to make sure Long Island local taxpayers aren’t left with the bill to rebuild roads and bridges damaged by Superstorm Sandy,” Senator Gillibrand said. “This expedited funding will help keep our rebuilding efforts moving forward, and we will keep working to make sure no bureaucracy stands in the way of getting our communities fully back on their feet.”
This funding will go towards reimbursing municipalities for emergency repairs needed to restore essential traffic, minimize the extent of damage and protect the remaining facilities as well as permanent repairs necessary to restore the highway to its pre-disaster condition.
Schumer and Gillibrand today announced that many roadways on Long Island that were damaged by Superstorm Sandy will now be expeditiously funded by the DOT. Schumer and Gillibrand explained that in the past these types of reimbursements have taken years to be completed. Schumer and Gillibrand praised the DOT for their swift action in distributing these emergency relief funds for Long Island.
Below is the list of roadways that were damaged on Long Island, for which today’s announcement will reimburse state and local governments:
Nassau
Branch Blvd- washout at a failed culvert
West Shore Road-Washout at a failed culvert, seawall damage
2 Bridges in Long Beach
County Wide Signal Repair
Area-Wide Sign Damage
BASCULE Bridge
Ocean Parkway- extensive damage to roadway and protective sand dunes, one way made two war, dune replenishment and culvert cleanout
Terminus of Robert Moses Causeway- dune replenishment
Meadowbrook State Parkway over False Channel- repoint below sea level and repair scour
Long Island Expressway- noise wall repair and replacement
NYSDOT-Emergency Culvert Work
NYSDOT-Regionwide traffic signal work, ITS work, emergency generator
NYSDOT- Parkway Lighting Repairs
Suffolk
Asharoken Avenue- protective dune repair
Dune Road- protective dune repair
Town of Shelter Island- protective dune repair
NYSDOT- area wide traffic signal damage
NYSDOT- area wide sign damage
Orient State Park Roadway- repair of roadway into park
Orient Park- repair of roadway into park
Republic Airport- repair garage door and protective measures
NYSDOT- traffic signal work, ITS work, emergency generator