SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE, FOLLOWING THEIR PUSH, ROCHESTER AREA HAS SECURED FIRST OF ITS KIND, $32 MILLION FED GRANT THAT WILL OVERHAUL LYELL AVE/RT 390/RT 490 INTERCHANGE IN MONROE COUNTY – CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IS CRITICAL TO EASING TRAFFIC CONGESTION, CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF AREAS LIKE EASTMAN BUSINESS PARK, AND ATTRACTING NEW HIGH-TECH COMPANIES TO AREA THROUGH IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE

In June, Schumer & Gillibrand Pushed For Massive Grant From Fed Dept. Of Transportation That Would Revamp Lyell Ave Corridor’s Entire Interchange – Project Will Help Improve Transportation For 200,000 Vehicles That Move Through The Area Daily & Open Area Up To Greater Development Opportunities

Schumer & Gillibrand Helped Secure Critical $32 Million in Fed Funds That Will Now Allow Project To Move Forward – Improving Rush Hour Traffic Flow, Reducing Congestion & Curbing Accidents At Lyell Ave Interchange, Where I-490, Route 390 & Lyell Ave (Route 31) Meet

  Schumer, Gillibrand: Critical Traffic Improvements Will Bolster Rochester Area Economy & Attract New Companies To Places Like Eastman Business Park

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced, following their push, that they have helped secure critical federal funding that will be used to fix and improve the Lyell Ave, Rt. 390-490 corridor in Monroe County. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will allocate a first of its kind, $32 million grant through the new FASTLANE program, which Schumer and Gillibrand fought to create. Schumer and Gillibrand said this funding will now allow the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) make major upgrades to this highway interchange to improve rush hour traffic flow while reducing congestion and related accidents for the approximately 200,000 vehicles that move through the interchange on a daily basis. This funding will enable the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) in Rochester to move this project forward and begin making major upgrades the interchange where I-490, Route 390 and Lyell Avenue (Route 31) come together in Monroe County. The Senators said this project will be critical to improving area transportation for residents and visitors, as well as businesses. Facilitating access to the Eastman Business Park is vital to attracting new companies and high tech industries like Photonics to the Rochester area.  

“This $32 million in federal funding is tremendous news for Monroe County, and will put the desperately needed Lyell Avenue Corridor improvement project in the fast lane. I-390 and I-490 at Lyell Avenue is a major artery for residents, visitors and businesses in the Rochester area, but this interchange has needed an overhaul for years. This significant federal investment will finally allow NY State to move forward on this critical project, which will improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, curb accidents and pave the way for continued development at the Eastman Business Park by making it easier for new, high-tech companies to move in,” said Senator Schumer. “I was proud to fight for this funding, which will improve both area safety and economic development opportunities for years to come.”

“This comprehensive project is a major investment that would help upgrade and strengthen our transportation infrastructure in the Rochester area,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The funds provided by the Department of Transportation would help alleviate the current traffic influx at the interchange near the Town of Gates. Safeguarding these road would help reduce traffic and help create economic development opportunities for local businesses. I fought to secure this new funding to ensure the necessary renovations were made to the Lyell Avenue corridor. Investing in our infrastructure enables safer, more efficient service for the businesses and travelers who rely on it every day.” 

Schumer and Gillibrand successfully fought to pass the long-term, 5-year federal transportation bill, the FAST (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation) Act, in Congress this year. Under the FAST Act, New York State alone will receive over $16.5 billion in transportation funding over the next five years – an increase of over $1.5 billion above previous investment levels. Furthermore, the FAST Act created a new dedicated discretionary program called FASTLANE. The FASTLANE program funds critical highway and freight projects or regional or national significance and was provided $4.5 billion over the five years of the bill – including $800 million to give out in grants this year alone.

With the news of last month’s start of the $10.9 million first phase of this project to replace the Lyell Avenue bridge over Rt. 490, ‎the Senators began their push to secure the critical federal funding that will allow the next phase of the project to commence. In June, Schumer and Gillibrand launched their effort to secure these critical federal funds through the FASTLANE program. The Senators cited that this funding would allow NY State to improve traffic flow for motorists exiting Route 390 northbound at the Lyell Avenue interchange, including the off-set Lee Road intersection just to the east.

Plans also include improvements to Route 31 (Lyell Avenue) and the Lyell Avenue Bridge over Route 390. Schumer said improving this interchange is critical for both safety and economic development opportunities. Corridor improvements will improve traffic flow as well as reduce congestion and related accidents. In addition, facilitating access to the former Eastman Kodak industrial park – now Eastman Business Park – will be vital to attracting new companies and high tech industries like Photonics to the Rochester area.

A copy of Schumer and Gillibrand’s initial letter to the DOT appears below:

Dear Secretary Foxx:

We are pleased to write in support of the application submitted by the New York State Department of Transportation in Rochester for funding through the Department of Transportation’s FASTLANE grant program.  Such funding will enable the New York State Department of Transportation in Rochester to undertake a highway/bridge project to upgrade the interchange where I-490, Route 390 and Lyell Avenue (Route 31) come together in the Town of Gates, Monroe County.

This project aims to improve rush hour traffic flow, while reducing congestion-related accidents for the approximately 200,000 vehicles that move through the interchange on a daily basis.  The project will target two specific locations: the Route 390 southbound ramp to I-490 eastbound, and the I-490 westbound ramp to Route 390 northbound.  According to NYSDOT, this project will improve traffic flow for motorists exiting Route 390 northbound at the Lyell Avenue interchange, including the off-set Lee Road intersection just to the east.  Plans also include improvements to Route 31 (Lyell Avenue) and the Lyell Avenue Bridge over Route 390.

Improving traffic flow and access through this interchange is also crucial for the continued successful development of the Eastman Business Park.  Facilitating access to this former Eastman Kodak industrial park is vital in efforts to attract new companies and high tech industries like Photonics to Rochester.  We applaud the New York State Department of Transportation in Rochester for its foresight, and sincerely hope the application meets with your approval.

Thank you for your consideration.  For additional information, please do not hesitate to contact our staff.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator

Kirsten Gillibrand

United States Senator

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