Nassau County, NY – Today, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran released her proposed 2021-2024 Capital Improvement Plan. The aggressive and comprehensive four-year plan seeks to invest strategically in crucial infrastructure improvements, important environmental initiatives and economic development projects.
“The County has persevered during unprecedented challenges this year, a public health crisis and economic crisis, which have shown us how important it is that we commit to smart and transformative capital projects critical to the health, safety and quality of life of Nassau residents. This four-year capital plan not only seeks to improve our infrastructure and resolve critical needs, but it also will make improvements to attract new residents and businesses so we can continue to meet the challenges of retaining our tax base,” said County Executive Laura Curran.
This $1.6 billion plan will build on infrastructure successes that the County has achieved over the past year, including the robust Roadway Resurfacing program which will continue through 2024 and the completion of major projects including the new state-of the-art NCPD Center for Training and Intelligence and the Family Matrimonial Center. The Capital Plan is focused on improvement of basic infrastructure, county buildings and environmental upgrades that are critical to quality of life and delivery of services to Nassau County residents.
The 4-year Capital Plan aligns with the expectation of reduced funding, due to pandemic related financial challenges, by resequencing and balancing large scale infrastructure improvements with critical asset renewal. The plan successfully adjusts timelines and funding to meet the financial needs of the County, while prioritizing the County’s critical needs. Nassau County is committed to continuing to progress and complete pivotal local improvements that are important to the quality of life in our communities.
Key projects include:
- Roads: The 2021-2024 Capital Plan seeks to build on infrastructure successes achieved in the past two years. In 2019, Nassau County reached a milestone of 207 lane miles of roads resurfaced. In 2020, 170 lane miles will be resurfaced, despite challenges presented by COVID-19. The 2021-2024 Capital Plan continues this aggressive roadway improvements targeting the resurfacing of over 100 lanes miles annually.
- Public Safety: The plan calls for funding for completion of the Nassau County Police Department Center for Training and Intelligence, a new three-story state of the art police training facility being erected near the Nassau Community College campus. Slated for completion early next year, this new resource will revolutionize the training capabilities of the Nassau County Police Department and provide for multi-jurisdictional training opportunities with other regional law enforcement agencies. Additional public safety funding includes the rollout of body cameras and infrastructure upgrades to the Correctional Center.
- Western Bays Resiliency Initiative: With support from New York State, Nassau County is moving forward with up to $800 million in projects to remove harmful discharges and improve water quality in the Western Bays area on the south shore of Nassau County. The Western Bays Resiliency Initiative is the most significant environmental investment we will make in many decades, and it will translate into a tremendous economic boost for the region. This historic upgrade will clean our waterways, restore marshland, improve storm resilience, improve shell-fishing and provide a better ecosystem. Improved water quality means a better quality of life for residents.
- Family and Matrimonial Court and Family Justice Center: As the exterior renovations of the Family and Matrimonial Court and Family Justice Center are nearing completion, the project will continue with Phase 2—an interior fit out of the space commencing in 2021.
- Renovation of Bayville Bridge: This 1938 era bascule bridge will be completely renovated assuring its continued operation to both residents of the North Shore communities and the recreational boaters that traverse the waters of Mill Creek below it. Construction is expected to begin in mid to late 2021.
- Nassau Community College: To further enhance our educational system, the County is dedicating funding to implement major improvements at Nassau Community College’s Cluster C Building. Renovations will provide modern and sustainable spaces for STEM programming.
- Traffic and Pedestrian Improvements: A key traffic improvement project highlighted in the Capital Plan is the construction of a 1.4 mile stretch of Austin Boulevard in Oceanside/Island Park to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety, drainage and increased storm resiliency to create a safer and more sustainable corridor. Additional safety and traffic enhancements are planned at Manorhaven Boulevard in Manorhaven and Grand Avenue in Baldwin.
- Park Improvements: The plan calls for funding for improvements to County Parks including large scale renovations planned for Centennial Park in Roosevelt, Christopher Morley Park in Roslyn and Wantagh Park.
“Despite the devastating financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 – 2024 Capital Improvement Plan reaffirms my commitment to restore and improve infrastructure while investing in big-picture projects that will improve the County for generations to come,” said County Executive Curran.