Schumer: Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law
From the Office of US Senator Charles Schumer,
Fed $$ Will Support Construction 2.5 Miles Of New Bike Lanes, Bump-Outs, And Roundabouts On West State Street Between North Union Street And St. Bonaventure University Campus, That Will Increase Safety, Efficiency Along West State Street – One Of Cattaraugus County’s Busiest Streets – And Boost Small Businesses In Olean
Funding Comes From Highly Competitive RAISE Program Which Schumer Secured Historic Increase For In Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law
Schumer: A Transportation Transformation Is Coming To Olean!
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today announced a whopping $25 million in federal funding for the City of Olean’s Connecting Communities Project. This long desired federal funding will support 2.5 miles of improvements on West State Street between North Union Street and St. Francis Road at the St. Bonaventure University campus including a two-way protected bike lane, bump-outs, and roundabouts. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) highly competitive Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program, which Schumer secured historic funding for in the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law.
“A transportation transformation is coming to Olean. I’m proud to announce the feds have greenlit a whopping $25 million in funding for street safety and integration improvements along Olean’s West State Street! $25 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law I led to passage in the Senate is going to support major improvements along West State Street, including new bike lanes, bump-outs, pedestrian paths, and roundabouts that better connect Olean and St. Bonaventure and will further energize growth and economic activity for scores of small businesses in Olean,” said Senator Schumer. “This project is not just about safety – it is about connecting critical assets – from downtown to St. Bonaventure – in this region by building out the necessary infrastructure to create a hub of economic activity and growth. I fought to secure a historic boost in funding for the RAISE grant program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law because I know how important street safety is to our communities, and I’m thrilled that it’s putting us on the road to a safer future for Olean and Cattaraugus County.”
Schumer explained that the project will fund 2.5 miles of improvements along West State Street. The City of Olean will build a two-way protected bike lane or shared-use path, bump-outs and pedestrian refuge islands, marked crosswalks, pedestrian crossing signals and ADA improvements, green infrastructure, approximately five traversable mini-roundabouts, and pedestrian and public transit amenities. With over 180 businesses and approximately 1,600 jobs on West State Street, the complete-street makeover will transform safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, multi-modal mobility and community connectivity, and economic competitiveness for underrepresented groups.
Some sections of the street were build in 1896 and 1917 and lack modern water and sewer infrastructure. Schumer said this federal funding provides the city with the funds needed to move forward with modernizing and improving West State Street to make it safer and reduce traffic.
William J. Aiello, Mayor of the City of Olean said, “Over the past four years, our Community Development office under the direction of Keri Kerper has worked with Jeff Belt, Molly Vendura Landscape Architect and Clark Patterson Lee in the creation, preparation and annual submittal of applications to United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) under the RAISE Program for the Connecting Communities, a Multi-modal Vision for West State Street, Olean, NY Project. I would like to thank USDOT for the $25 million award. I would like to thank Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Nicholas Langworthy and Governor Kathy Hochul’s office for the advocacy that was provided to our project. I would also like to thank the Olean Common Council for supporting the Multi-modal Vision for West State Street. I look forward to working with town of Allegany and St. Bonaventure University as we connect our communities.”
The RAISE grant program funds transportation projects of national and regional significance. Schumer secured historic increases for the program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law, at $7.5 billion over five years, with $1.5 billion per year.
Jeff Belt, President of SolEpoxy and Community Advocate said, “Olean has become a role model for safety-oriented complete street makeovers, helped by the enormous resources of the USDOT. North Union Street was transformed for an 80% reduction of injury accidents. Now West State Street will be reconstructed with improved safety for drivers and pedestrians—many of whom are children, walking to school.”
Molly Vendura, RLA ASLA LEED AP, Landscape Architect said, “There is no more deserving community than the City of Olean. The City and the project team have been working on the design of this transformative project for the past five years, and we are so happy to be able to bring changes to the W. State Street corridor that will improve safety, walkability, connectivity and transportation efficiency, as well as bring many environmental benefits to the City’s residents, businesses and the nearly 500 school children that have to cross that very busy and dangerous street each day. I am so proud to be part of the design team and extend my hearty congratulations to the City!”
