Governor Cuomo Unveils Over $ 300 Billion Infrastructure Plan; LIRR, Nassau remediation plan among the priorities

In addition to Washington’s money, Albany’s money will soon be coming to Long Island and other parts of the state for major infrastructure projects.

Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled a $ 300 billion multi-year infrastructure proposal on Friday. For Long Island, a large chunk of the money will go towards adding a third track along a 10-mile stretch for the Long Island Rail Route to Hicksville Station west of the Flower Park. This project is already underway.

“The big concern is that with the drop in ridership due to the pandemic and the loss of income, they were going to stop funding this. This will not end the project. The governor gives us assurances that he will continue and we have a bright future, ”says Marc Herbst of the Long Island Contractors Association.

State money will also go to the Bay Park wastewater treatment plant in southwestern Nassau County.

“With the Bay Park transportation project, this will improve the environment. This is going to be a 50% reduction in nitrates, ”Cuomo says.

Even though the state faces a multibillion-dollar budget deficit, Cuomo says spending billions on these projects is a smart thing to do because it will put more people to work and it will also have a positive psychological effect.

“Building new projects, improving everyday life, seeing progress also uplifts people’s morale,” Cuomo says.

Separately, President-elect Joe Biden is offering billions of dollars for infrastructure projects, which could mean money for road and highway projects across the island and state.