Co-op City Times 11/28/15

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NYSDOT proposes new exit off the Hutchinson River Parkway North into Section 5 Co-op City’s official newspaper serving the world’s largest cooperative community. © Copyright 2015 Co-op City Times

Vol. 50 No. 48

BY BILL STUTTIG As part of an overall $30 million project of the New York State Department of Transportation to improve traffic flow on area highways between Pelham Bay and Co-op City, the agency is proposing the construction of an additional exit ramp off of the Hutchinson River Parkway directly in front of Section 5 which will provide egress from the busy highway to Section 5 and also to Bartow Avenue leading directly into the massive Bay Plaza shopping complex. The new exit is part of a $30.2 million area highway overhaul which, according to the state DOT’s own website, “will provide mobility improvement on the northbound Bruckner Expressway between Wilkinson Avenue and the Hutchinson River Parkway exit ramp, construct an exit ramp from the northbound Hutchinson River Parkway to Bartow Avenue and reconfigure the Pelham Parkway interchange.” The project includes funding from both the state and federal governments. According to the website, construction on the project is not scheduled to begin until 2018 with completion tentatively scheduled for the spring of 2021. Martin Prince, Chairperson of Community Board 10 and also a Co-op City

Saturday, November 28, 2015

resident, said that Board committee members, along with elected officials, were preliminarily advised of the plan earlier in the autumn. Mr. Prince told the Co-op City Times that he sees some areas in the overall plan that might raise some concerns, but overall, he believes it to be a good plan. “This is something that we have been asking for, for a long time – major funding to help relieve some of the traffic congestion in the area,” Prince said. “While the plan is not perfect, we have to take our time and study it and, if need be, make suggestions for improvement. This, in my opinion, is something that we can’t reject outright because this kind of funding for traffic improvements is what we need and have been asking for.” Mr. Prince added that the project is big, so big that the Borough President’s office has provided a staff member to work with the Community Board and the community at large to go over the plan in the coming months. Prince said detailed schematics and explanations of the project are being sent to many groups in the affected communities, including Co-op City. “We have to take our time with this one,” Mr. Prince said. “State transporta-

$1.46 million in payments/credits for Co-op City’s Power Plant’s load shedding and reliability capabilities

tion officials are encouraging us to share this plan with the communities and get back to them with the communities’ suggestions. There will be public meetings on this in the near future, but first, we have to study and absorb the whole plan and then make solid recommendations for improvements.” Mr. Prince added that meetings where public comments will be taken could start as early as January and those meetings will include some in Co-op City.

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State Assemblyman Mike Benedetto, who has also preliminarily met with state DOT officials about the plan, also said the plan includes some good changes, including reducing the number of exits and entrance onto I-95 from adjacent roadways, which not only leads to traffic congestion, but also dangerous traffic hazards. The assemblyman said that there are seven entrances and exits

REMINDER: November Carrying Charges due Monday, Nov. 30 (Continued on page 2)

Monday, November 30, is the last business day of the month and the last day to pay your carrying charges to avoid legal action. Thank you for your cooperation.

Pipe repair project back on track

Interim General Manager Noel Ellison accepts a congratulatory handshake and check from Energy Spectrum President David Neiburg (right). The $550,000 check for Co-op City comes from Con Edison as payment for the community’s participation in the utility’s power load shedding requests this past summer. Joining in the presentation are (from left) Energy Spectrum’s David Aherns and Cristina Villegas and Riverbay’s Director of Finance Peter Merola. Photo by Bill Stuttig

BY BILL STUTTIG

On Tuesday, Riverbay interim General Manager Noel Ellison and Director of Finance Peter Merola were presented with a $550,000 check from Con Edison for the Co-op City Power Plant

successfully demonstrating its ability to shed a portion of its electrical load when requested. Riverbay was asked to prove its ability (Continued on page 9)

Riverbay’s Director of Purchasing and Procurement, Jose Mendez, led representatives from engineering firms interested in bidding on the repair work of leaking hot water pipes behind the Cooper Place townhouses along Co-op City Boulevard during a pre-bid conference on Tuesday, Nov. 24. The project to permanently repair leaking hot water pipes below ground behind the Cooper Place townhouses is now moving forward rapidly following delays when a previous engineering firm refused to agree to standard contract language from Riverbay. Bids for the engineering and design work are due on Dec. 10 and the actual construction work for the complex project to replace several hundred feet of 24” metal pipe could possibly begin in the spring of next year depending on the availability of material. Photo by Jim Roberts


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