WASHINGTON – The Department of Transportation is awarding $250 million in federal funding to the New York State Department of Transportation for repair to various federal-aid highways damaged by Superstorm Sandy. The funding is authorized through the Emergency Relief program within the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Westchester and Rockland Counties have reported over $570,000 in damage to federal-aid eligible roads, such as Bronx River Parkway in Westchester County and River Road in Rockland County. Schumer and Gillibrand today revealed the roadways in the Hudson Valley that being expeditiously funded by the DOT after they were damaged by Superstorm Sandy.

Normally reimbursements such as these can take months or years, but in this case, it will be expedited because the Sandy relief legislation provided $2 billion in funding for the FHWA Emergency Relief program. The expedited reimbursements will allow construction to move forward quicker, prevent local taxpayers from being on the hook for interest payments, and allow other construction projects to begin. 

“Local governments laid out hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix roads and get traffic moving again, and these quick reimbursements means that taxpayers won’t be left out to dry,” said Sen. Charles Schumer.  “DOT is getting the money out the door quicker than it ever has before, and governments, tax payers, drivers and pedestrians will see the benefit.”

“This is the right move to make sure Lower Hudson Valley taxpayers aren’t left with the bill to rebuild roads and bridges damaged by Superstorm Sandy,” Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said. “This expedited federal funding will help keep our rebuilding efforts moving forward, and we will keep working to make sure no bureaucracy stands in the way of getting our communities fully back on their feet.”  

This funding will go towards emergency repairs needed to restore essential traffic, minimize the extent of damage and protect the remaining facilities as well as permanent repairs necessary to restore the highway to its pre-disaster condition.