Official Website of Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27)

Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) and Mayor Sam Teresi announced a $367,800 federal Recovery Act grant to support traffic equipment improvements and synchronization along the City of Jamestown’s Main Street corridor.

“This project provides a number of long-term benefits for the city, local residents and businesses,” said Congressman Higgins. “Commuters win by saving time and money spent on the existing stop and go traffic pattern, taxpayers win by decreases in the repair costs to the city and businesses win with a project that provides a more friendly traffic flow and healthy natural environment.”

Mayor Sam Teresi stated, “I would like to thank Congressman Higgins for his support and assistance with securing this much-need funding to improve our traffic control system along the main thoroughfares in the City of Jamestown. This grant will not only provide for much-needed and long-overdue equipment upgrades to promote the more efficient flow of vehicular traffic throughout the city, but also builds upon our long-standing commitment to reduce both the consumption of energy and the discharge of harmful vehicle emissions into the environment.”

The federal funding will allow for the replacement of 7 traffic signals based on a traffic study of the corridor. The existing signals were installed in the 1970’s and are run on electro-mechanical controllers that rely on gears and dials to change the lights. Servicing the controllers and replacing the parts is becoming more difficult and costly. The project will extend from Main at 6th Street through Main at Washington Street. Traffic along Main Street is approximately 8,500 vehicles each day.

The energy based objectives of the project is to reduce fuel consumption usage and delays for travelers along the stretch and decrease emissions by cutting down idling times.

The federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program funding was distributed through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Jamestown was one of 206 projects winning the competitive grants out of over 420 submissions statewide. Below is the complete breakdown of the $512,995 awarded to Chautauqua County:

Municipality	Funds Allocated	Description
Dunkirk	$136,651	To conduct public outreach, purchase a 25 cubic yard packing truck, and purchase recycling totes in order to switch the city’s recycling program from a sorted program to a no-sort program and to enhance the curbside pick-up program for recycling goods.
Forestville	$4,490	To retrofit T12 fixtures with T8 fixtures and install LED exit lights at the Fire Hall and the Street and Water Department garage.
Jamestown	$367,800	To implement traffic signal coordination at a 7 traffic signal corridor. Install new controllers and inductance loops and program them based on a traffic study of the corridor.
Stockton	$4,014	To retrofit 53 T12 lamps with T8 lamps and electronic ballasts, and to replace 3 incandescent bulbs with CFLs.

“The City of Dunkirk is grateful for the funding that the ARRA and Congressman Higgins has provided the City of Dunkirk, “said Dunkirk Mayor Richard Frey. “This funding will allow us to implement a “no sort” recycling program that we are projecting will reduce our landfill usage by approximately 30% thus contributing to a greener economy, while reducing costs for the taxpayers within the City.”

“The federal stimulus program is providing greatly-needed funding to help local governments reduce their energy costs while helping New York State reduce its overall energy consumption and greenhouse gas pollution. The clean energy measures this funding supports will create jobs and help meet Governor David A. Paterson’s ambitious clean energy goals. NYSERDA looks forward to working with officials from the city of Jamestown to help them achieve the greatest savings possible,” added Francis J. Murray, Jr. President and CEO of NYSERDA.