Long Island Leaders Stake Claim To $3 Billion In Federal Transportation Funding

County Executives Mangano and Levy and Are Joined

By LIA President Kevin Law in Declaring that Hudson River Tunnel Funds Rejected by New Jersey Should be Spent Here

Infrastructure Work Seen as Crucial

For Area’s Economic Prosperity

Farmingdale, NY –County Executives Edward P. Mangano and Steve Levy and joined forces today with Long Island Association (LIA) President Kevin Law in announcing the two counties’ bid for $3 billion of the $8.7 billion in federal transportation funding that New Jersey recently abandoned by canceling the Hudson River rail tunnel.

The three leaders pointed to a multitude of road, sewer system and airport facility projects that are worthy of swift completion for the sake of the environment and the economy. The officials were joined at the news conference by a host of elected officials and business and labor leaders from across the island.

, “Nassau County is ready, willing and able to accept some of these funds and put people back to work. In these tough economic times, these funds would be critical to creating jobs and improving our transportation infrastructure,” said Mangano.

“Long Islanders send some $3 billion more to Albany and $3 billion more to Washington in taxes than we get back in aid,” Levy. “This infusion of federal aid would not only balance this inequity, it would have a profound, positive impact on the region’s economy.”

LIA President Law explained that “Long Island’s aging infrastructure has been overlooked and underfunded for too long. This $3 billion in federal funding would be the exact shot in the arm the Long Island region needs to vastly improve our transportation networks, make our area more attractive for businesses, and provide an easier commute for our residents.”

Levy, Mangano and Law said the federal funding is part of a program that is specific at this time to new construction of transit systems construction. Nonetheless, the trio said they will urge federal officials to relax these requirements so that immediate needs on Long Island can be addressed.

Levy and Mangano also shared an Oct. 27 letter they sent to U.S. Transportation Department Secretary Ray LaHood noting how a disproportionate share of billions of transportation dollars for the tri-state region go directly to New York City, leaving little or no money for the suburban counties.

While other metropolitan-area initiatives including the Long Island Rail Road East Side Access project and the Second Avenue subway line have received attention as potential landing areas for the freed-up federal funds, Levy and Mangano will identify top-priority projects for Long Island that they believe should receive equal consideration. Among these are the expansion of the Sagtikos and Meadowbrook Parkways, key north-south thoroughfares and gateways to major Long Island commercial, industrial and residential centers. Levy also pointed to construction of a third lane on County Road 97 from Sunrise Highway to Stony Brook University ($350 million) and creation of a third lane along County Road 83 from the Long Island Expressway to Middle Country Road ($30 million) as Suffolk projects worthy of funding.

Marc Herbst, ExecutiveDirectorof the Long Island Contractors’ Association (LICA), stated, “There is now a no-holds-barred race for federal funds left on the table because one elected official offered a vote of ‘no confidence’ in the future of our region. His lack of vision is our opportunity for two counties led by strong leaders to seek those dollars that can be used to enhance our public infrastructure, strengthen our economy, protect the taxpayers’ investment in roads and bridges and ensure that people and commerce can get from one end of Long Island to the other. We not only stand with Steve Levy and Ed Mangano, but we are making them honorary members of LICA’s road crew.”