Congressman Sean Maloney

Representing the 18th District of New York
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Maloney Praises Move to Expedite Construction of Exit 131 Woodbury I-87 Interchange

Jan 10, 2017
Press Release
Construction to Begin This Year

Worked with Cuomo, Local Officials to Accelerate Construction

Funding Made Possible through Federal Highway Transportation Bill

Newburgh, NY — Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) praised Governor Andrew Cuomo for announcing the accelerated construction of the Woodbury I-87 Interchange at Exit 131 during the 2017 State of the State in Westchester County. Last year, after ensuring the necessary federal funding was included in the 2015 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) and local officials celebrated the 2016-17 New York State budget investment in the rehabilitation of the Woodbury I-87 Interchange at Exit 131. Previously set to begin construction in 2018, construction will now begin this year.

“Anyone who drives through southern Orange County knows what it’s like to sit in endless traffic around Woodbury Common, which is why fixing this problem has been my top transportation priority since day one – that means beginning construction as soon as possible,” said Rep. Maloney, member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “I want to thank Governor Cuomo for working together - from securing billions in federal transportation funding to prioritizing local projects at the state level - to get the ball rolling faster on this critical project. Smart, responsible investments in our infrastructure make us safer, create good-paying jobs, and grow our economy – it’s really a no-brainer.”

Since 2013, Rep. Maloney has worked closely with U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Governor Cuomo, New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioners Joan McDonald and Matthew Driscoll, Senator Bill Larkin, Assemblyman James Skoufis, local and business leaders, and senior administration officials, including dozens of meetings, phone calls and letters, in an effort to secure funding for the Woodbury I-87 interchange in Orange County.

Immediately after taking office in 2013, Rep. Maloney met with then-NYSDOT Commissioner Joan McDonald regarding the Woodbury I-87 interchange, and wrote a letter in support of a competitive Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant application for funding the project. Later that year, Rep. Maloney wrote a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx articulating the top transportation priorities for the 18th congressional district, indicating the Woodbury I-87 interchange as the top priority project. In February 2014, Rep. Maloney sent a memorandum to Larry Schwartz, then-Secretary to Governor Cuomo listing the Woodbury I-87 interchange as a top priority. Then in March 2014, Rep. Maloney again met with Commissioner McDonald and in August of that year, Rep. Maloney once again wrote the Commissioner highlighting the Woodbury I-87 interchange as the top transportation priority in the Hudson Valley. In May 2015, Rep. Maloney met with William Mulrow, Secretary to Governor Cuomo and submitted a memorandum stating that, “the Exit 131 interchange improvement is the most critical transportation project in the Hudson Valley.” Following dozens of meetings, phone calls, and letters, including a meeting on February 24, 2016 with current NYSDOT Commissioner Matthew Driscoll, Rep. Maloney led more than 45 government, business, and community leaders urging Governor Cuomo and NYSDOT to include Woodbury I-87 interchange in the 2016-17 New York State budget agreement.