Smooth Road Ahead: Governor Hochul Announces $80.1 Million Long Island Expressway Pavement Renewal Project Completed Ahead of Schedule

 

Expedited Project Completed in Exactly Six Months, One Month Ahead of Schedule

Major Southern State Parkway Pavement Project also Completed this Week

Over 440 Lane Miles of State Road Resurfaced on Long Island This Year, Totaling $121.6 Million

Project Complements Governor Hochul's $1 Billion Pave Our Potholes Program

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the $80.1 million resurfacing project on the Long Island Expressway from the Nassau-Suffolk border to State Route 112 in Suffolk County is now complete. In April, the New York State Department of Transportation began work on this critical project, which was completed this morning, Thursday, October 20 - six months after initial work began and one month ahead of schedule. The Governor also announced that the major pavement renewal project on the Southern State Parkway in Nassau and Suffolk Counties is being completed this week. This year, more than 442 lane miles of state roads across Long Island have been repaved with new asphalt - totaling $121.6 million. 

"Smoother roads are ahead with the ahead of schedule completion of this transformative repaving project for Long Islanders," Governor Hochul said. "We are putting historic infrastructure investments to work to repair our roads, pave our potholes, and deliver the quality, reliable infrastructure New Yorkers deserve." 

In her inaugural State of the State Address this year, Governor Hochul made investing in New York's infrastructure and fighting the scourge of potholes across the state one of her highest priorities, allocating $1 billion over five years. Under a new program called Pave Our Potholes, $500 million was allocated for local roads and $500 million for state highways. The program, which was officially launched with the passage of the State Budget in April, has already allocated $111 million to pave more than 793 lane miles of state and local roads this fiscal year, with more requests for reimbursement still to come for work completed by localities across New York. This is in addition to other State programs, such as CHIPS, PAVE NY, State Touring Routes, and other programmed capital projects across the state.  

Statewide from August 2021 through the end of 2022, more than 3,700 lane miles of roads have been or are expected to be resurfaced.  

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, "In her years serving as both Lieutenant Governor and Governor, Kathy Hochul has driven thousands of miles of highways across the state, and she knows where every pothole is hiding. She also knows the value of investing in New York's critical infrastructure. Our state and contractor forces worked hard this year to fill as many potholes as they could through hundreds of resurfacing projects, including this large project on the Long Island Expressway that was completed early and under budget. While we have a lot to be proud of, we always have more work to do. With unwavering support from Governor Hochul, we'll be out there in force — maintaining our roads, completing our capital projects, and getting the infrastructure ready for New York's harsh winter months." 

Long Island Expressway  

Paving crews began in the eastbound direction of the Long Island Expressway on Tuesday, April 19 at the Nassau and Suffolk County line near Exit 48 and proceeded to mill away the old pavement and place new asphalt along the Long Island Expressway's three main travel lanes, the High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane, shoulders, and 62 on/off ramps. Work then began in the westbound lanes from State Route 112 at Exit 64 towards the Nassau County border, which was just completed on October 20, completing over 286 lane miles total. The new, smoother asphalt riding surface, which is expected to last at least ten years, also includes new highly reflective pavement markings and rumble strips on the shoulders.  

Southern State Parkway 

Governor Hochul also announced that Friday, October 21 will mark the completion of the third Southern State Parkway resurfacing project in the last two years, totaling over 121 lane miles.  The two latest sections of the Southern State Parkway completed this year—Grand Avenue/Baldwin Road (Exit 20) to State Route 110 (Exit 32) in Nassau County and State Route 231 (Exit 39) and the Sagtikos State Parkway (Exit 41A) in Suffolk County — will provide South Shore motorists with a smoother ride for commuting and leisurely traveling across Long Island.  

Other major projects across Long Island

In August, Governor Hochul announced that six of ten locations slated for resurfacing this spring had been renewed, many ahead of schedule. Since then, two other projects have finished, including a resurfacing project on State Route 111 between the Long Island Expressway and Suffolk Avenue in the Town of Islip, as well as shoulder rehabilitation work on the Meadowbrook State Parkway between Merrick Road and Ocean Parkway in the Town of Hempstead.   

Two pavement projects totaling $26.4 million, which began this spring, are proceeding and set for completion in 2023. The first includes full depth concrete repairs on 55 Southern State Parkway entrance and exit ramps in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties while the second includes pavement resurfacing with sidewalk ramp safety enhancements on State Route 109 between the Nassau/Suffolk border and State Route 27A in the Town of Babylon.   

Additionally, a $7.3 million concrete restoration and repair project is underway between State Route 112 and Yaphank Avenue/Suffolk County Route 21 (Exits 64 to 67) in the Town of Brookhaven. Scheduled for completion in the spring of 2024, the concrete riding surface will be renewed with diamond grinding the pavement to remove imperfections and replacing deteriorated sections of concrete where necessary.  

And earlier this year, Governor Hochul announced the most transformative project on the Long Island Expressway in recent memory with the reconstruction of Exit 53 to add access ramps to Crooked Hill Road (Suffolk County Route 13), improving mobility for motorists while bolstering the local economy. 

Motorists are urged to plan accordingly and drive responsibly in work zones.  Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone.  Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual's driver license.  

For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app.  

Follow NYSDOT on Twitter at @NYSDOT and @NYSDOTLI.  Find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/NYSDOT.

You’re Invited: Faith Leaders Luncheon Hosted By Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr

 

In recognition of Pastors Appreciation Month, Council Member Salamanca will be hosting a Faith Leaders Luncheon at The Bronx Zoo. 

Join us as we come together to celebrate and honor all faiths from across our diverse Borough. RSVP is required. See flyers for instructions and important information.

TO RSVP: CLICK HERE!

Visit our District Office at:  1070 Southern Boulevard Bronx, New York 10459 (718) 402-6130 salamanca@council.nyc.gov

NYS Economy Added 17,400 Private Sector Jobs in September 2022

Unemployment Rate Decreased by 0.4 Percentage Points in September

 According to preliminary seasonally adjusted figures released today by the New York State Department of Labor, the number of private sector jobs in New York State increased over the month by 17,400, or 0.2%, to 8,061,500 in September 2022. The number of private sector jobs in the U.S. also increased by 0.2% in September 2022.

    New York State's private sector jobs (not seasonally adjusted) increased by 361,400, or 4.7%, over the year in September 2022, which exceeded the 4.2% increase in the number of private sector jobs in the U.S.

    New York State's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 4.7% in August to 4.3% in September 2022. From September 2021 to September 2022, the unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) fell from 5.7% to 3.9%.

    From August to September 2022, New York State's labor force (seasonally adjusted) decreased by 36,600. At the same time, the labor force participation rate went down from 60.5% in August 2022 to 60.3% in September 2022.

    The number of private sector jobs in New York State is based on a payroll survey of New York businesses conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Monthly payroll employment estimates are preliminary and subject to revision as more complete data become available the following month. The BLS calculates New York State’s unemployment rate based partly upon the results of the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) of approximately 3,100 households in the State.

Note: Seasonally adjusted data are used to provide the most valid month-to-month comparison. Non-seasonally adjusted data are valuable in year-to-year comparisons of the same month – for example, September 2021 versus September 2022.

Statewide Industry Employment

September 2022 – Seasonally Adjusted

• On a net basis, the total number of nonfarm jobs in the state increased by 15,600 over the month, while private sector jobs rose by 17,400, in September 2022.

• At the same time, the total number of nonfarm jobs in the nation increased by 263,000, while private sector jobs increased by 288,000.

   

NYS Job Growth Equals Nation’s

Over-the-Month % Change in Total Nonfarm & Private Sector Jobs, August – September 2022  

Total Nonfarm and Private Sector Jobs Increased in September 2022 Total Nonfarm and Private Sector Jobs (in 1000s), September 1990 – September 2022 Statewide Unemployment September 2022 – Seasonally Adjusted In September 2022, the statewide unemployment rate decreased from 4.7% to 4.3%. New York City’s unemployment rate decreased from 6.6% to 5.6%. Outside of New York City, the unemployment rate increased from 3.2% to 3.3%. The number of unemployed New Yorkers decreased over the month by 39,400, from 445,100 in August to 405,700 in September 2022. NYS Unemployment Decreased in September 2022 Labor Force Statistics,  September 2021, August - September 2022 The Labor Force and Number of Unemployed Decreased in September Total Labor Force & Number of Unemployed, September 2010 - September 2022 Unemployment Rate Decreased in NYC, Increased in Balance of State Unemployment Rate, NYC & BOS, September 2010 - September 2022 Substate and Industry Employment  September 2022 – Not Seasonally Adjusted New York State Exceeded Nation in Job Growth Over-the-Year Change in Total Nonfarm & Private Sector Jobs, September 2021 – September 2022 Note: The sum of sub-state area job estimates will usually differ from the New York State total. This is because the State total is calculated separately from the sub-state areas and is estimated based on an independent sample. Jobs and Unemployment Fact Sheet This fact sheet conveys important technical information that will contribute to a better understanding of labor force data (“household survey”), including resident employment/unemployment rates, and jobs by industry data (“business survey”), which are presented in the New York State Department of Labor’s monthly press release. State Unemployment Rates Based on Regression Model Beginning with data for January 1996, unemployment rates for New York State and all other states (as well as New York City and the City of Los Angeles) have been estimated using time-series regression statistical models developed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Advantage of Regression Model Use of a time-series regression model reduces the month-to-month variation in unemployment rates and resident employment by reducing variation caused by sampling errors and other components of statistical noise (irregularities). Benchmarking of Estimates Once each year, labor force estimates, such as civilian labor force and the unemployment rate, are revised to reflect updated input data including new Census Bureau populations controls, newly revised establishment jobs data and new state-level annual average data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). As part of this procedure, all state figures are reviewed, revised as necessary and then re-estimated. This process is commonly referred to as “benchmarking.” Changes in Methodology Labor force estimates are now produced with an improved time-series regression model, which utilizes “real-time” benchmarking. “Real-time” benchmarking reduces end-of-year revisions, which also means that major economic events will be reflected in a more timely manner in state labor force estimates. In addition, the new methodology includes an updated way of estimating for sub-state areas (e.g. counties, metro areas) the number of unemployed who are new entrants or re-entrants into the labor force. This change in methodology will result in lower unemployment rates in some areas and increased rates in others. Unemployed and UI Beneficiaries The estimate of the number of unemployed includes all persons who had no employment during the reference week (the week including the 12th of the month), were available for work, except for temporary illness, and had made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference week. Unemployment insurance (UI) beneficiaries include those who apply for and qualify for UI benefits. Consequently, the estimate of the number of unemployed and the number of UI beneficiaries do not necessarily move in tandem. Jobs Data Jobs data are obtained from a separate joint federal-state survey of business establishments. The survey, called the Current Employment Statistics of Establishments, has a sample size of 18,000 establishments in New York State. It excludes self-employed workers, agricultural workers, unpaid family workers and domestic workers employed by private households. This data represents a count of jobs by place of work. Data for each month is revised the following month as more complete information becomes available. The New York State Department of Labor is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES CITY HALL, MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS, ICONIC NEW YORK CITY SITES TO BE LIT PURPLE IN HONOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that City Hall and a number of other municipal buildings will be lit purple tonight for the ninth annual “NYC Go Purple Day” in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The lighting of city buildings will be done in coordination with other New York City sites across the five boroughs.

 

“Everyone deserves to be safe in their relationships and live a life free of domestic and gender-based violence,” said Mayor Adams. “I urge all New Yorkers to join me during Domestic Violence Awareness Month to help spread awareness and to let survivors know they are never alone. Let’s spread help and hope together.”

 

"During Domestic Violence Awareness Month we recognize the immense and far-reaching impacts domestic, intimate-partner, and gender-based violence have on our community here in New York City and what we are doing to combat it," said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. "To every person or family touched by these issues, we stand with you, we elevate your voices, and we are here to support you."

 

“Domestic Violence Awareness Month highlights the city’s efforts to keep our community safe and free from violence,” said Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Commissioner Cecile Noel. “As Mayor Adams has said before, domestic and gender-based violence is a public health crisis, and we must take a coordinated, holistic approach to address the acute and unique needs of survivors. Our office works to implement this approach daily, and we are thrilled have the support of the Adams administration in developing and implementing new programs to interrupt cycles of violence and enhance support for survivors throughout the city. Join us this month and raise awareness of the dynamics and impacts of domestic violence by lifting up the stories and experiences of survivors and sharing vital information and resources.”

 

In addition to City Hall, the following city buildings and iconic New York City sites will be lit up purple tonight:

 

City Buildings Being Lit Up:

• The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building
• Gracie Mansion
• Queens Borough Hall
• Staten Island Borough Hall
• One Police Plaza
• The Parachute Jump in Coney Island
• The Arsenal in Central Park
• Bronx County Courthouse

 

Iconic New York City Sites Scheduled to Be Lit Up:

• 1 World Trade Center
• Bank of America Tower
• Four Times Square

 

Domestic violence occurs everywhere, among people of all races, cultures, religions, and income levels. It can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender, or sexual orientation. While domestic violence is considered one of the most under-reported crimes, in 2021 there were 260,084 domestic violence incident reports filed by the New York City Police Department — an average of 700 a day. In 2021, there were 93,735 calls to New York City’s 24-hour Domestic Violence hotline at 1-800-621-HOPE (4673), with 6,970 unique requests for shelters. The NYC Hope website — where survivors can access resources and information — had 50,100 visits, an average of almost 140 visits a day.  

 

The Adams administration’s commitment to advancing the city’s responses to domestic and gender-based violence is supported with multiple innovative strategies and initiatives, including:

• Respect & Responsibility: ENDGBV launched a free, non-mandated Abusive Partner Intervention Program for individuals who have caused harm in their intimate relationships. The program implements a trauma-informed curriculum that aims to have participants take accountability, stop causing harm, and change behavior. Programming launched in February 2022 with three city-contracted providers that facilitate introductory sessions and multi-week groups and support participants with access to case management and other services.

• HOME+: A free option for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence who want to stay in their homes safely instead of entering shelter or going elsewhere. The program provides survivors with personal emergency-response systems to call for help, along with ongoing safety planning and case management services from a local domestic violence organization. Launched in October 2021, this citywide program will soon expand to provide free emergency door and window lock repair and replacement to enhance security.

• Flexible Funding/Microgrants: Mayor Adams’ housing and homelessness blueprint included resources for emergency financial grants to survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, many of whom are impacted by financial abuse directly or who need financial assistance to mitigate the impacts of abuse. The flexible funding program will engage community-based providers in providing low-barrier emergency grants to survivors. This financial assistance will help survivors navigate safety, avoid shelter entry, and offer them a chance to get back on their feet.
• Emergency Housing Voucher Program: ENDGBV is working with more than 30 community-based partners to help survivors of domestic and gender-based violence apply for and find permanent housing with an emergency housing voucher. ENDGBV has facilitated access to approximately 1,200 emergency housing vouchers for survivors to date, with an additional 600+ emergency housing vouchers applications in process.

 

For more information on October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) campaign, visit the city’s official website. 

 

NEW JERSEY MAN INDICTED FOR FATAL 2020 HIT AND RUN OF FOOD DELIVERY WORKER IN BRONX

Defendant Was Driving Without License; Evaded Authorities for Two Years 

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a New Jersey man has been indicted for recklessly driving on the Grand Concourse, leading to the death of a Bronx food delivery worker in 2020. 

 District Attorney Clark said “The defendant accelerated and ran a red light, striking a food delivery worker on a bicycle. His alleged reckless actions ended the life of the victim, who was delivering food in the middle of the pandemic. I send my deepest condolences to the victim’s family, who had to wait for two years for the defendant to be brought to justice.”

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Yeramil Alvarez, 22, of Ridgefield New Jersey, was arraigned today on Leaving the Scene of an Incident without Reporting, Reckless Driving, and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Albert Lorenzo. Bail was continued at $25,000 cash, $75,000 bond.

 According to the investigation, at approximately 7:47 p.m. on September 23, 2020, near the corner of East 180th Street and Grand Concourse, the defendant was allegedly stopped in a 2020 Black Genesis sedan and accelerated when leaving the location. Alvarez was speeding and ran a red light, striking Victorio Hilario-Guzman, 37. The victim, who was on a bike making a food delivery, flew from his bike and hit his head against the curb. The defendant allegedly immediately fled the scene without stopping after crashing into Hilario-Guzman. The victim was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was pronounced dead hours later.

 Alvarez’s license had been suspended at the time of the incident. To evade authorities, the defendant allegedly drove the vehicle to a hotel in New Jersey. The vehicle was a rental for which the defendant allegedly used a fake Pennsylvania license plate and provided an inaccurate call back number. The vehicle was found totaled in Michigan a month after the incident. The defendant was arrested on September 19, 2022 after he was stopped in Manhattan for driving with a suspended license.

 District Attorney Clark also thanked NYPD Sergeant Randal McFarland formerly of the Bronx Collision Investigation Squad, currently of the 115th Precinct.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.