Lawler secures over $32 million in local infrastructure funding for fiscal year 2025

On Tuesday, Congressman Mike Lawler was joined by Rockland County Sheriff Lou Falco and other local elected officials outside the Rockland County Sheriff’s office to highlight major infrastructure and public safety investments for the Hudson Valley secured in federal community project funding for Fiscal Year 2025. Although the appropriations work for Fiscal Year 2025 is still ongoing, Congressman Lawler has already secured more than $32.9 million for fifteen different projects across New York’s 17th Congressional District, which includes all of Rockland County. With the latest numbers, Congressman Lawler is set to deliver more than $70 million for New York’s 17th Congressional District in his first term in office.

“Projects like these are great examples of what we can accomplish when we put aside politics and focus on meeting the needs of our communities and constituents,”  said Lawler, “that’s been my focus as a Congressman, it’s been my focus throughout the appropriations process for both Fiscal Year 2024 and 2025, and it will always be my focus.”

Flanked by Orangetown Supervisor Terresa Kenney, Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann, and the town of Ramapo’s Chief of Staff Mona Montal, Lawler detailed how the new funds will impact the county, sighting projected improvements in  public safety and mass transit in four of Rockland’s five towns. Every Rockland official present characterized  Lawler as highly responsive and cooperative in their efforts to secure funding to improve the county. The new investments include:

Rockland County Public Safety and Crime Prevention Initiative

Recipient: Rockland County Sheriff’s Office

Amount: $4,500,000

Summary: The funding will be used for necessary law enforcement priorities such as police vehicles, equipment to be utilized at a new reality-based public safety training facility, and the structural analysis and design of the facility. 

Nanuet TOD Project

Recipient: Town of Clarkstown

Amount: $5,000,000

Summary: This funding will be used for construction of the first phase of its transformative vision for the Nanuet Transit Oriented Development Plan (TOD), including water and sewer infrastructure improvements, road, sidewalk, and pedestrian safety and streetscape enhancements. Bringing this extensive new infrastructure could spark the redevelopment of the area by mitigating the drainage issues plaguing development, and creating the necessary connectivity for a walkable and easily accessible TOD neighborhood.  

Safer Ramapo Project

Recipient: Town of Ramapo

Amount: $5,000,000

Summary: The funding will be used for installation of pedestrian safety measures, including traffic signals, turning lanes, walking paths, and sidewalks in the Town of Ramapo. Directing funding towards pedestrian safety measures will not only mitigate the risk of accidents but also cultivate a more pedestrian-friendly environment. From 2011-2022, there have been 983 pedestrian injuries, and twenty-seven (27) deaths in the Town of Ramapo. Safer walking conditions continue to be an urgent need for Ramapo residents.

Samsondale Avenue Curbs & Sidewalk Replacement Project

Recipient: Village of West Haverstraw

Amount: $800,000

Summary: The funding will be used to construct necessary upgrades of sidewalks and curbing along Samsondale Avenue, which have rapidly deteriorated and become a hazard. The project will unlock critical improvements to a main thoroughfare for a Village operating on a limited budget. Many pedestrians utilize Samsondale Avenue to get to the business district along Railroad Avenue and Route 9W as well as access to and from the Village of Haverstraw. The lack of sidewalks is potentially hazardous to people walking on them. This project will improve accessibility and safety, improve connectedness, and improve ADA compliance.