October 13, 2023
(L to R, Canisteo Village Trustee James Dineen, Senator Tom O’Mara, Assemblyman Giglio’s Chief Of Staff Joe Sempolinski, DOT Regional Head Brian Kelly)
CANISTEO, NY – Regional Department Of Transportation Head Brian Kelly was in Canisteo Friday morning, thanking Governor Kathy Hochul, State Senator Tom O’Mara and Assemblyman Joe Giglio, for their help in funding the construction work in Canisteo. “The Department of Transportation and Governor Kathy Hochul have a committment to complete streets,” said D.O.T. official Brian Kelly. “That means more than just pavement, when we’re in a village like this. It means things like expanding and enhancing the sidewalks, it means paying attention to pedestrian needs. Other safety improvements include the rapid flashing beacons just up the street, to help pedestrians cross the road safely. We also have made a number of enhancements in the community, you’ll see the brick pavers right around the buildings, some benches here around this park, Acorn has some more lights around the business there. Certainly we couldn’t have done this without Governor Kathy Hochul, and State Senator Tom O’Mara, State Assemblyman Joe Giglio, who provided the resources and support to transportation infrastructure,” Kelly said. Brian Kelly also noted that the design was done by D.O.T. engineers.
“This project here is every bit as well done, as well designed, as well built, as the two I’ve seen in Watkins Glen and Montour Falls,” said Senator O’Mara. “To our smaller, older village, it really makes a difference, great work, thank you all very much,” O’Mara stated. “Big thanks to the D.O.T.,” said Giglio Chief of Staff Joe Sempolinski. “I’m someone who has pushed baby carriages down this street, someone who has guided my young children on their tricycles, making this area safe is of paramount importance, and I really want to, on behalf of Assemblyman Joe Giglio, thank the D.O.T. and the entire design team, for making the place that I call home, even more safe,” Sempolinski said.
“On behalf of the Village of Canisteo,” said Village Trustee James Dineen, who was reading a letter written by Mayor Monica Recktenwald, “I want to thank the New YorK State Department of Transportation for providing improvements to our small village, and we want to show our appreciation to the State allowed our residents, business owners and board members, to give input into the plans and process. The professionalism shown by the D.O.T. staff and construction firm was outstanding, and all questions were all dealt with in a professional and patient manner. With these downtown improvements, businesses have invested in their storefronts, and many residents have expressed how proud they feel, in driving down the smooth roads and walking down the new sidewalks,” said Dineen, reading from Mayor Recktenwald’s letter.
