Posted on January 30, 2017
By Rachel Shapiro, silive.com
After years of planning, the money is finally flowing in for a buried seawall project along the East Shore of Staten Island to protect against future Hurricane Sandy-like storms.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently included $151 million in his 2017-2018 executive budget proposal, one and a half months after local lawmakers urged him to do so.
State Sens. Andrew Lanza and Diane Savino and Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis penned a Dec. 2 letter to the governor, seeking the state’s share for the $615 million project, whose construction is slated to begin in early 2019. It was originally slated to begin in 2018.
The state Legislature must still vote to approve the budget.
If the final budget includes the $151 million, the state will pay for it over three years through bonded capital spending through the Department of Environmental Conservation.
On Tuesday, it was announced that $2 million in federal funds for Hurricane Sandy relief would kick off the design phase of the project.
The city budgeted $60 million in FY17 for its share of the project, according to a spokesperson.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said at the time, “The Staten Island levee will provide vital protection to the East Shore community — a community that is on the front lines of climate change, as we saw so clearly during Sandy. This complements the more than $20 billion resiliency plan we’re undertaking across the five boroughs to protect our neighborhoods and infrastructure from flooding, sea level rise and other climate risks, helping us create a more resilient, sustainable and equitable New York City.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed its feasibility phase last month, moving to the design phase for the projects, which includes building the seawall from Fort Wadsworth to Oakwood Beach, and a levee and floodwall in Oakwood Beach.
“After decades of fear and waiting, the people of Staten Island’s shoreline communities are finally receiving the protection they need and deserve,” Malliotakis said. “Including this appropriation in the executive budget will ensure the very important seawall stays on track for scheduled completion in 2022. I want to thank Gov. Cuomo for upholding the state’s financial commitment toward this critical capital project. It is a true testament to government officials at all levels working together to deliver results for their residents.”
The cost of the project, expected to be completed in late 2022 — originally 2021 — has steadily increased from an estimated $579 million to the most recent $615 million estimate as of Wednesday, making the federal government’s share about $400 million; the state’s share about $154 million; and the city’s share about $62 million.
“The seawall project is vital to the future resiliency of our shoreline communities,” Lanza said. “I applaud Gov. Cuomo for including this funding in the 2017-18 budget proposal. With this commitment, the residents of Staten Island’s waterfront can rest easier knowing that a real and permanent storm surge solution is on the way. I look forward to working with my legislative colleagues to ensure that this funding is included in the final adopted state budget.”
Savino said, “Having the governor recognize the importance of this project by putting the necessary funding in the executive budget is another successful step in protecting the residents of Staten Island. The budget process is complex, and as vice chair of the Finance Committee, I am committed to continuing the fight for this capital project that my colleagues and myself worked to bring to the administration’s attention.”
Source: silive.com
