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LONG ISLAND REGIONAL

PLANNING COUNCIL

February 27, 2015


The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
Re: State Surplus Investments for Long Island: The Long Island Billion
Dear Governor Cuomo:
We are writing to follow up our previous letter sent to you on November 26, 2014 which
addressed Long Islands request to receive its fair share of the billions of dollars in proceeds
acquired by the state from litigation settlements. While we appreciate the fact you included two
of our previously requested projects in your proposed 2015-2016 state budget totaling
approximately $100 million, we believe Long Island deserves at least $1 billion of the surplus for
various infrastructure projects in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Specifically, the State should fund an additional $900 million in capital projects that
could strengthen our intellectual infrastructure; our environmental infrastructure; and our
transportation infrastructure.
Here is an updated list of projects that should be funded:
I.

INTELLECTUAL INFRASTRUCTURE(Total Requested: $150 million)


Innovation Capital Fund- The state should create a capital fund for Long
Islands research institutions that would allow our region to maximize the
commercialization of research emanating from these institutions in order to create
a New York version of the Research Triangle here on Long Island. These funds
could also be used to enhance the collaboration between these world-class
institutions, foster growth in the technology sectors and open up new paths to
drug discoveries, all of which could help drive the future economy of Long

Island, while also complementing the States Start-Up NY program. The entire
State would reap a huge return on investment from these funds.
II.

ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE

(Total Requested: $400 million)

On Long Island, a safe supply of clean drinking water and healthy creeks, bays and
harbors support a multi-billion dollar economy fueled by tourism, boating, fishing, plentiful
seafood and a desirable way of life for 2.8 million Nassau and Suffolk residents. Long Islands
waters create jobs and generate hundreds of millions of dollars every year for our regional
economy. Our coastal systems are vital assets that provide the first line of defense for our
communities from the extreme weather events that threaten our shores and the recreational
tourism opportunities that fuel our local businesses.
But Long Islands health, economy and quality of life are all at risk. Aging sewer and
septic systems leak nitrogen into our underground supply of fresh drinking water, which flows
into our creeks, bays and harbors. Nitrogen pollution, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, personal care
products, and other toxic chemicals in Long Islands water can pose serious risks to human
health. Toxic algae (fed by nitrogen pollution) in our waters can kill fish and our pets, and is
deadly to humans. Accordingly, we request funds for:

Nitrogen Management and Mitigation Plan- to protect our quality of life, we


need an overarching plan and nitrogen targets to manage for to make sure that
state, county and local water resource planning efforts are coordinated and
actively addressing our immediate coastal resilience and water quality challenges.
We urge you to include $3 million in the budget for the creation of a management
and mitigation plan, as well an additional $2 million for the creation of science
based numeric nitrogen standards for a total of $5 million.

Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant Outfall Pipe - Superstorm Sandy destroyed
the Bay Park Sewage Treatment plant. While federal storm recovery monies
have been identified to rebuild this plant, these funds cannot be used for the ocean
outfall pipe that is needed to protect the health and quality of the bay. It is
estimated the outfall pipe may cost more than $600 million. A state financial
commitment toward the project could leverage additional federal and local dollars
to complete this critically important project similar to what the state recently
proposed with the nitrogen severely limiting facility at Bay Park; and
Sewers in Suffolks Downtowns - Suffolk County remains nearly two thirds
unsewered which is a major infrastructure deficiency prohibiting economic
development. While the region appreciates the recent announcements you made
regarding federal dollars for sewers along Suffolks South Shore communities
to protect the quality of ground and surface waters, sewer investments in other
parts of Suffolk County are required to protect our environment and create

additional mixed-use and transit-oriented development projects in our downtowns


to facilitate growth of the Countys economy.
III.

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

(Total Requested: $350 million)

Nassau County

Nassau Coliseum Structured Parking Facility - The Nassau Coliseum will be


undergoing a one quarter billion dollar private investment for a new state of the
art arena along with surrounding sports and entertainment development. If a
structured parking facility were constructed adjacent to the Coliseum, then a
significant amount of the acreage of the site (currently used for parking for
Coliseum events) would be freed up for additional development. A larger state
investment in this facility [partial funding was included in the proposed State
budget] would complement the current private investment and drive hundreds of
millions of dollars of additional private investment at the site.

Cerro Wire - The property formerly owned by Cerro Wire Corporation consists
of approximately 54 acres of buildable land in Syosset. The Long Island Regional
Economic Development Council has stated the proposed development of the site
is one of the most significant on Long Island and, if developed, has the potential
to be transformative for the region, while creating numerous construction and
permanent jobs. The new owners intend to submit to the Town of Oyster Bay a
separate and distinct plan to develop the site as a mixed use, smart growth Town
Center. The construction of the Town Center will require a significant investment
of hundreds of millions of dollars. The developer has already invested in excess of
$90 million dollars to purchase the site. However, a sizeable state investment for
this project is necessary to pay for the elimination of the grade crossing at
Robbins Lane and other major road improvements, all of which would nicely
complement the privately funded one half billion dollar Town Center as a transitoriented development project.

Belmont Park Redevelopment Improvements - The state will soon be making


an award for competing development projects on surplus property adjacent to
Belmont Park, any of which could be enhanced by infrastructure investments in
the area. Significant investments to provide for improvements to parkway
entrance/exit interchanges, public roadways, utilities and an intermodal transit
station including pedestrian overpass and streetscape improvements would be
comprehensive and would incentivize additional private economic investment in
the local community.

Nassau Expressway, Route 878 This project would include the removal of
substandard pavement and curbing, replacement and installation of new drainage
infrastructure, grading improvements, and installation of new pavement and curbs
to address longstanding flooding, safety, and road surface issues along the entire
two mile highway length between Burnside Avenue and the Rockaway Beach
bridge. In addition, it would create hundreds of jobs, strengthen the local
economy and harden an existing flood evacuation route.

Suffolk County

Sagtikos Parkway Widening Project - This project would widen the Sagtikos
Parkway and is critical to facilitate an exciting redevelopment of the former
Pilgrim State Hospital property known as the Heartland Town Center. A major
investment would initially leverage hundreds of millions of dollars in private
investment proposed for the site and eventually billions of dollars of private
investment once completed.

Ronkonkoma Hub - This transit-oriented development will turn a blighted area


within steps of the busiest Long Island Railroad station into a brand new livework-play destination within minutes of Long Island MacArthur Airport. A state
investment for a new structured parking facility was included in the proposed
State budget. This will jump start the proposed private investment of a half of
billion dollars and lead to further private investment because approximately 12
additional acres would now be available for redevelopment. The Master
Developer of the Ronkonkoma Hub has recently received Town of Brookhaven
and Suffolk County municipal approvals to develop 1,450 residential units,
360,000 square feet of office, 195,000 square feet of retail and 60,000 square feet
of hospitality. The proposed state investment in a parking structure would allow
this transit-oriented development to expand from a $300 million into a $450
million private investment and thus, should remain in your proposed budget.

Connect Long Island - Bus Rapid Transit on Route 110 - This project will
create a new enhanced public transit system along Rt. 110 serving major office
buildings, Amityville and Republic railroad stations, SUNY Farmingdale and the
Walt Whitman Mall while complementing the opening of the Republic LIRR
station which is funded in the 2015-2019 MTA capital plan. Route 110 has
become Long Islands Main Street and a state investment would leverage
hundreds of millions of dollars in further private investments along this corridor.

Connect Long Island - Bus Rapid Transit on Nicolls Road - This project would
create a new BRT system along 15 miles of Nicolls Road serving Stony Brook
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University, Suffolk Community College, the Ronkonkoma Hub, multiple railroad


stations, and Long Island MacArthur Airport, while complementing the exciting
progress being made in Patchogue and would leverage further private investments
along this corridor.

Walt Whitman Road Bridge This bridge over the Long Island Expressway,
along with the Route 110 overpass, are the two primary access roads to the
Melville Employment Center, which is the most important commercial hub on
Long Island in terms of employment and tax revenue. Immediate traffic and
congestion problems with the bridge could be redesigned and mitigated to allow
for future business growth, including the possible expansion of the North
American headquarters of Canon, U.S.A.

Calverton - Development has been stalled at EPCAL property for decades due to
environmental issues including traffic and access concerns. Traffic Improvements
to support redevelopment of this major Town of Riverhead property for the
Proposed Redevelopment of EPCAL Property at Calverton and should be
implemented.

Port Shoreham A unique opportunity exists to transform the blighted former


Shoreham nuclear power plant site into an engine of economic growth by
developing a facility that could be used as a deepwater cargo port and
manufacturing park for renewable energy companies.

These physical infrastructure funds could be dispersed via a competitive grant


competition for applicants on Long Island who meet certain criteria related to parking, roads,
sewers, transportation improvements, wastewater protection, job generation, etc. The
competition could be evaluated through the existing Regional Economic Development Council
model while also engaging the Long Island Regional Planning Council for additional analysis
and input. Furthermore, the Nassau and Suffolk County Executives could each designate an
appointee to participate in the process.
CONCLUSION
As one of the primary economic engines in the State of New York, its important, fair and
a wise financial decision that Long Island receives an appropriate share of the State surplus.
These worthwhile projects require a $1 billion investment by the State, of which approximately
$100 million is already included in your proposed state budget. Thus, we are requesting $900
million more be included in the 2015-2016 state budget for Long Island. These projects could
then leverage billions of dollars in additional private investments, create thousands of
construction and permanent jobs, and strengthen the Long Island economy that is so important to
the entire State. Thank you for your consideration of our request.
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Respectfully submitted,

John D. Cameron, Jr.


Chairman
Long Island Regional Planning Council
(LIRPC)

Kevin S. Law
President & CEO
Long Island Association (LIA)

Desmond M. Ryan
Executive Director
Association for a Better Long Island
(ABLI)

Mitch Pally
CEO
Long Island Buildings Institute (LIBI)

Nancy Kelley
Executive Director
The Nature Conservancy

Robert DeLuca
President
Group for the East End

Marc Herbst
Executive Director
Long Island Contractors Association

cc:

New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos


New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie
New York State Senate - Long Island Delegation
New York State Assembly Long Island Delegation
Nassau County Executive- Edward Mangano
Suffolk County Executive- Steve Bellone

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