Press Release: NYS, January 14, 2001

Governor Pataki today announced his 2001-2002 Executive Budget will include a comprehensive $50 million plan to continue to transform the New York State Canal System into a major economic development and recreational asset for Upstate New York.

"New York's canal system offers countless opportunities for family fun, which can translate into tourism dollars for communities along this historic waterway," Governor Pataki said. "These strategic new investments in our canal harbors, ports and trailways will revitalize the Canal and expand economic development opportunities from Albany to Buffalo."

The Governor's canal proposal would provide a total of $50 million during the next five years to fund a variety of new canal initiatives, including the completion of the 348-mile canalway bike and pedestrian trail linking Lake Erie to the Hudson River.

The Canal Corporation will work to develop and implement specific projects to allow for expanded canal access, waterfront enhancements, increased historic preservation initiatives, new recreational activities along the corridor and improvements that would protect and enhance the Canal System infrastructure.

Lieutenant Governor Mary O. Donohue said, "The redevelopment and reinvigoration of our Canal System has been one of the Governor's top priorities. This new plan would provide additional resources to upgrade facilities and spur new private sector investments along the canal corridor, which is the economic main street of Upstate New York."

The Governor's new program would be financed with $25 million from the federal Department of Transportation Enhancement Program, which flows through the State Department of Transportation, and $25 million in Canal Corporation capital funds.

Louis R. Tomson, Chairman of the NYS Canal Corporation said, "The Canal Corporation has made substantial contributions to improve the basic infrastructure of the Canal System. These infrastructure improvements, combined with major harbor revitalization projects in Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, Seneca Falls and the Tonawandas, provide a solid foundation for the new future role that Governor Pataki has outlined. We enthusiastically support his new proposal for the canal system."

New York's Canal System consists of the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga/Seneca canals. The Canal System was responsible for the development of many cities and towns in Upstate New York as well as opening Ohio, Indiana and Illinois to settlement in the 19th Century.

The new $50 million in funding for the Canal System would complement the nearly $152 million that New York, under Governor Pataki's leadership, has already invested in the Canal System during the past six years. These funds have been used for improvements in canal infrastructure, rehabilitation and revitalization initiatives.

This includes a five-year Canal Revitalization capital program, begun in 1997, that focuses on improving canal harbors, canal service port and lock projects, the canal trail, and implementing the canal marketing plan.

Since taking over the Canal System, the New York State Thruway Authority has focused on making the Canal System's infrastructure safe, reliable and navigable. This includes instilling private sector and investor confidence in the system by reinvesting in the basic infrastructure of locks, dams and wall repairs; and demonstrating examples of how to develop successful economic improvement projects along portions of the canal corridors.