October 15, 2010

Project Would Not Have Gone Forward Without Recovery Funding, Arcuri Support

VIRGIL, NY-Today, U.S. Rep. Michael A. Arcuri (NY-24) joined Cortland County officials at the site of a project to reconstruct a portion of Page Green Road in the town of Virgil, Cortland County, which was funded primarily through federal sources including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Bill).  The work currently taking place is part of phase III of the reconstruction.

"Improving and increasing our transportation infrastructure isn't just about getting people from here to there, it is at the heart of regional economic development-connecting communities, businesses, consumers and producers to foster the kind of economic growth and job creation we need," said Arcuri, a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.  "Page Green Road serves as a vital link for schools, emergency services and the ever-growing Greek Peak Ski Resort.  Allowing this project to be a casualty of DOT over-allocating Recovery Bill funding and a lack of State funding because of the budget crisis this past spring was not an option.  Working with DOT, I am pleased to have found the $1.8 million in Recovery funding to restart this project and create jobs."

"Without Congressman Arcuri's efforts to solidify funding that was previously in question, we would not have been able to move the Page Green Road project forward," said Cortland County Highways Superintendant Donald Chambers. "And, because this $1.8 million is through the Recovery Bill, no state or local matching funds were needed, which saves us money at both levels."

"Congressman Arcuri is the reason the Page Green Road project is happening," said Cortland County Legislator Sandra Price (District 19).  "We thought we had the funding through the Recovery Bill and all of a sudden it was gone, and along with it, our ability to complete this project.   This is a road that was in absolute disrepair.  Through the Congressman's efforts we got construction back on track, helping the local economy and putting local people back to work."

$1,837,000 in Recovery Bill funding that was initially certified for phase III of the project in November 2009 was pulled back in January 2010 by the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) four (4) days before Cortland County was to have closed the bidding process because the state had over-allocated Recovery Bill funds to projects already under contract.

Upon learning of this, Arcuri immediately contacted DOT to insist this project be placed first-in-line to receive any additional Recovery funding that became available.   In May, DOT determined that there would be enough savings from other Recovery projects that this phase III could be funded and informed Cortland County that they could reopen the bidding process. This was at a time when the ongoing New York State budget impasse prevented any new DOT construction projects from being opened for bidding or awarded unless the project was 100 percent federally funded.

The construction contract for this project was awarded to local company Suit-Kote Corporation of Cortland, NY, which had announced it would lay-off 150 employees in April, 2010, because of the lack of work available due to the State budget crisis.

In addition to resurfacing 1.5 miles of pavement, phase III of the project includes improvements to 2,300 feet of cross culverts and closed drainage systems, a new 31 foot span bridge to replace existing box culverts, 5,100 feet of guiderail and other improvements such as tree removals, pavement markings and new signs.

The entire project, totaling $4,170,000, will reconstruct a 2.6 mile portion of Page Green Road, with previously completed phases I & II funded by a combination of federal, state and local monies (80%, 15%, 5%, respectively).

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