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The Central New York region will benefit from over $32 million in funding aimed at enhancing road safety. This initiative is part of a broader $90 million "Safe System" approach launched by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to reduce highway fatalities and improve road conditions. The funding will support projects in Rome, Augusta, Boonville, Bridgewater, and Camden, focusing on preventing vehicles from straying from their lanes.
According to Governor Kathy Hochul, the initiative aims to reduce fatalities by implementing engineering improvements, public education, and law enforcement coordination. The funding is part of the Federal Highway Administration’s Highway Safety Improvement Program and will be used for countermeasures like enhanced striping, curve warning signs, rumble strips, and median barriers.
NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez emphasized that highway safety is a shared responsibility and expressed hope that these investments will significantly reduce fatalities and serious injuries on New York's highways. The funding complements an additional $90 million set aside for state highway safety enhancements.
This initiative aligns with a nationwide effort led by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, who launched the SAFE ROADS initiative to improve safety on non-freeway arterial roads. The NYSDOT's comprehensive approach is part of a multi-year plan to achieve zero highway deaths in New York.