NYSDOT Commissioner Matthew Driscoll was in Jamestown Wednesday to tour the Jamestown Riverwalk and discuss funding for local transportation projects.
JAMESTOWN – The head of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYDOT) was in Jamestown Wednesday to get a firsthand look at the Greater Jamestown Riverwalk project and also announce a new funding opportunity for local communities.
NYDOT Commissioner Matthew Driscoll was in town to see the location of two future Riverwalk pedestrian bridges that will cross the Chadakoin River near the National Comedy Center Park.
“I think Mayor Teresi has done a fantastic job on providing a vision for the future and coming from a city I think I understand that very well,” said Driscoll, who is also the former mayor of Syracuse. “It’s all about bringing things together. Creating an environment where people live, work, and play. That’s really what’s happening here in Jamestown. It’s exciting – utilizing great assets here at the Riverwalk and other assets in the downtown to grow this community.”
Funding for the $2 million project comes from a state transportation grant of $1.6 million, along with $400,000 from the local Urban Development Action Grant funding.
The bridges are slated to be completed by the end of 2017.
Driscoll also announced a new funding initiative from the state called Bridge NY, which will provide $500 million for various bridge projects across the state. Applications for the funding opportunity are due by September 9 and county Department of Public Facilities Director George Spanos said that he and his team will be working to identify potential projects in the coming weeks.
In addition Driscoll talked about the PAVE NY program – a five-year, $500 million initiative being administered by NYDOT as part of its $21.1 billion five-year Capital Plan. The recent round of funding allocations included $853,000 for Chautauqua County, $202,000 of which went to Jamestown.
Also joining the commissioner on Wednesday for the announcement were Mayor Sam Teresi, Assemblyman Andy Goodell and a representative from Sen. Cathy Young’s office, along with other local and state officials.
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