ITHACA, NY – On Wednesday, New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that $3.2 million in federal funds will be granted to Ithaca and Danby for transportation upgrades and replacements.
The bulk of the funds will go to the City of Ithaca. They will be used to build sidewalks, replace a bridge and install new lighting and bike racks. $300,000 will go to the Town of Danby to improve safety at the railroad crossing on Station Road in West Danby, on the edge of the city.
“This is such an exciting time for Tompkins County. As the area continues to attract new businesses and create new jobs, we must ensure that we’re keeping up our infrastructure,” Schumer said in a press release. “This federal funding will allow Ithaca to make its downtown area more walkable and more business friendly.”
“Unlocking these funds will allow the City of Ithaca to move forward with key infrastructure projects,” said Gillibrand in the press release. “Making these critical improvements to our sidewalks, local bridges, and streetlights will help strengthen Ithaca’s local economy and long-term sustainability.
The upgrades will build on the city’s 2020 Downtown Development Strategy, which outlines the “big ideas” that are guiding downtown development from 2010 to 2020. The Commons reconstruction and recent upgrades to the TCAT system were also a part of this plan.