Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 17, 2011

SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $500,000 FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN FONDA, NY

DOT Grant Will Help Fund Redesign and Rebuild Roadways and Sidewalks

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded a total of $502,073 to the Village of Fonda. The grant will be used for the redesigning and rebuilding of roadway approaches in two crossings in the area. The funding is part of the DOT’s Railway-Highway Crossing Hazard Elimination in High-Speed Rail Corridors program and will be allocated through the Federal Railroad Administration.

“This project is a win-win for the Village of Fonda that will improve the quality and safety of this roadway and create jobs in the process,” said Senator Schumer. “This investment in local infrastructure means construction jobs and increased safety for the people traveling through these roadways and crossing areas.”

“This is a great investment for the Village of Fonda,” Senator Gillibrand said. “These federal dollars will help keep pedestrians safe, while helping to support local economic development and job creation. I will keep fighting to secure the resources we need to improve our infrastructure for families and businesses.”

The DOT grant will help the Village of Fonda’s efforts to improve pedestrian safety at two crossings on the developing Empire high-speed rail corridor. The Railway-Highway Crossing Hazard Elimination in High-Speed Rail Corridors Program funds improvements to railway-highway grade crossings on federal designated High-Speed Rail corridors. Grant recipients are chosen based upon the prospective project’s ability to meet at least one of the following criteria:

· Improvements at public or private grade crossings

· Installation of or upgrade to crossing signal equipment

· Crossing closure

· Grade separation

· Pedestrian crossing improvements

· Development or evaluation of a crossing safety plan

· Track circuitry improvements to activate warning devices

· Integration of crossing warning systems with advanced train control, signal preemption, and intelligent highway traffic control systems

· Other civil or utility improvements, such as improved crossing surfaces, lighting, and improved sight distance

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