WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Rep. Michael Arcuri announced they have received a commitment from New York State’s Department of Transportation to use nearly $500,000 in federal funding for Route 12’s county Rt. 32 bypass.

Schumer and Arcuri secured the funding through the FY2010 Consolidate Appropriations Act, signed into law in December, with the intent of it being used for improvements to the Route 12 corridor, specifically for the Rt. 12 Task Force’s Phase II study recommendation to complete county Rt. 32 as a bypass for through traffic.

The commitment came in response to a letter written by Schumer and Arcuri to NYSDOT Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee in which they emphasized that the funding was intended for the bypass, and should be used as such. Schumer and Arcuri pressed NYSDOT to honor Congress’s intent for the Route 12 corridor funding.

“I’m glad that NYSDOT is fully cooperating with Congress to use these funds for Route 12 improvements,” Schumer said. “This project will put people to work and improve traffic flow in Chenango County. One of the keys to economic growth is having workable transportation infrastructure and these funds will do just that. I would like to particularly express my gratitude to Acting Commissioner Gee for agreeing to commit these funds for these purposes.”