The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $10 million grant to Syracuse on Monday to finance more work on the Connective Corridor.

The project will create pedestrian-friendly means of travel in the corridor that connects the city to University Hill, where Syracuse University is located.

 

The grant will help fund a $17.2 million project to build sidewalks, benches, bike lanes, energy-efficient lighting and countdown timers at crosswalks within the corridor. These additions will limit the distance pedestrians must walk when crossing between streets, according to an article published Dec. 12. by The Post-Standard.

 

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), with the help of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Anne Marie Buerkle of Onondaga Hill, advocated for the project with federal officials, according to the article. Schumer lobbied for the competitive grant and asked U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for support, according to the article.

 

New York state and the city of Syracuse will provide an additional $7.2 million for the project. The matching funds are provided by New York State through Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, said Kevin Quinn, senior vice president of public affairs at SU.

 

University Hill and the city are home to five of the 10 largest employers in Central New York, said Schumer in the article. More than 47,000 people work in the corridor, according to the article. Planners said they hope the project will connect the city and lead to the development of new companies in the area, according to the article.

Robbi Farschman, the director of the Connective Corridor, and Sen. Charles Schumer, could not be reached to comment.

 

mjberner@syr.edu 

Published on December 11, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Maddy: mjberner@syr.edu