Islip To Get $475K More For Road Repairs

Islip Town will get additional state funding for road repairs and improvements under a proposed increase put forth by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Initial figures show Islip could see an increase of about $475,000, something Councilwoman Trish Bergin-Weichbrodt said is great news for the township. 

"It comes at a time when we are trying to recover from Sandy, the blizzard and a difficult winter," she said. "The roads have suffered and we are absolutely pleased the governor has increased our CHIPS money." 

Under Cuomo's proposed budget, Islip could receive a total of $2.15 million to fund local highway and road repair projects, an increase of 28.22 percent over the 2012-13 state budget. 

Cuomo recently outlined $438 million in funding under his 2013-14 budget for the state's Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) that will go to counties, cities, towns and villages across New York to support local highway, road and bridge repair projects. That total is an increase of 21 percent, the first increase in highway repair funding in five years.

"This budget is about jobs, jobs, jobs, and by investing in rebuilding our state’s transportation infrastructure we are helping to grow local economies and create jobs in all corners of the state," Cuomo said in a written statement. 

The state legislature still must vote to approve the 2013-14 state budget, which is expected before the April 1 deadline.

If the funding increase is approved, Bergin-Weichbrodt said town officials will consider using the additional funds to help those areas of Islip flooded by the recent storms. The funds can be used to install better storm water drainage system on selected roadways to help prevent future flooding. 

"Islip Town will use 100 percent of the funding this year for road repaving across the entire town, and for some of the town it will include better drainage as well," the councilwoman said. 

A complete breakdown of CHIPS funding is available on the governor's website.