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$1.6 million awarded to Village of Wilson to elevate pier

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Mon, May 24th 2021 05:50 pm

Will ensure public safety & continued recreational use

√ Project selected as part of Cuomo's REDI Initiative

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced the start of construction of a $1.6 million resiliency project, awarded to the Village of Wilson through the Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative

Townline Pier is a popular recreational site, frequented by village residents and visitors to the community. The pier, used for fishing, launching kayaks, and public access to Lake Ontario, has suffered structural damage from increased wind and wave action, and rising lake levels. During record flooding that occurred in 2019, the pier was 2 feet underwater, making the structure inaccessible and posing a safety risk to watercraft users. The proposed project will mitigate safety hazards as well as ensure continued recreational accessibility.

"During the flooding that occurred in 2019, many popular tourist destinations along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River were inaccessible, negatively impacting regions that welcome visitors each year from across the state,” Cuomo said. "Through the REDI program and through the state's partnership with these affected communities we are working together to ensure that, should future high water events occur, visitors will not be hindered from accessing and enjoying their favorite lake shore destinations, thus supporting the tourism economy that is vital to these municipalities."

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said, "New York is committed to investing in projects to increase resiliency and prevent flooding in communities along the Lake Ontario waterfront. The Village of Wilson is a prime location for recreational use of Lake Ontario, and today's start of construction at Townline Pier will help safeguard against the threat of rising waters and ensure that it remains a place of enjoyment for future generations."

Resiliency measures to be implemented in the project include:

√ Raising the structure 3 feet to an elevation of 252 feet to allow the pier to remain easily accessible during high water events;

√ Repair to the stairs allowing access to the pier from the shoreline;

√ Mitigating further erosion through the addition of riprap along the shoreline;

√ Construction of a public restroom; and

√ Parking lot improvements.

New York Secretary of State Rossana Rosado said, "Thanks to Gov. Cuomo's REDI initiative, we are helping Lake Ontario communities revitalize their waterfronts and strengthen resiliency against future flooding events as well as climate change. The improvements underway at Wilson's Townline Pier will help create a safer and more flood resilient condition, introduce new amenities and enhance accessibility for residents and visitors to this gateway to Lake Ontario. The Department of State is proud to work with the Village of Wilson and its elected officials on improving Townline Pier to help protect this important recreational asset and bolster the local economy."

REDI Co-Chair and Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President and CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, "The new elevated pier in Wilson is part of the unprecedented effort Gov. Cuomo is making to build back better in areas impacted by flood damage. The pier project capitalizes on the economic benefits of waterfront property by providing easy access to beautiful Lake Ontario for a wide variety of recreational activities for both residents and summer tourists."

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and REDI Commission Co-Chair Basil Seggos said, "Communities along the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River shorelines have faced serious challenges in recent years after repeated high-water events. The start of construction on this project in the Village of Wilson marks an important milestone in New York state's commitment to advance projects that help achieve REDI goals of building more resilient and sustainable communities. The Townline Pier project provides a long-term solution that will ensure vulnerable shoreline communities have reliable access to the pier during high water and the shoreline is protected from future flooding."

Niagara County Legislature Chairwoman Becky Wydysh said, "The REDI program has been key to getting several important projects along Niagara County's lakeshore moving forward to deal with the aftermaths of Lake Ontario flooding and the economic hardship it caused. The Townline Pier in the Village of Wilson, which was once 2 feet under water, will now be protected, increasing public use and development opportunities. I thank state officials for their support of all of our REDI projects and want to thank my colleague Legislator Dave Godfrey and Village of Wilson Mayor Art Lawson for all their efforts in making the Townline Pier project happen."

Lawson said, "People across the region and many of our community residents have enjoyed the Townline Pier for many years. The unprecedented flooding that occurred in 2017 and again in 2019 completely submerged the Townline Pier creating many safety issues. By rebuilding and stabilizing this pier, we not only are we rebuilding critical infrastructure but creating an attraction that is vital to rebuilding our tourist industry."

In response to the extended pattern of flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, Cuomo created REDI to increase the resilience of shoreline communities and bolster economic development in the region. Five REDI regional planning committees, comprised of representatives from eight counties (Niagara and Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego, and Jefferson and St. Lawrence) were established to identify local priorities, at-risk infrastructure and other assets, and public safety concerns. The REDI Commission allocated $20 million for homeowner assistance, $30 million to improve the resiliency of businesses, and $15 million toward a regional dredging effort that will benefit each of the eight counties in the REDI regions. The remaining $235 million has been allocated toward local and regional projects that advance and exemplify the REDI mission.

At Cuomo's direction, the REDI commission toured areas hard hit by flooding on Lake Ontario and worked with local communities to come up with a new vision for the shoreline from both a resiliency and economic development point of view in order to build back better and stronger for the future.

Since the creation of the REDI program in the spring of 2019, 133 REDI-funded local and regional projects are underway, including 100 projects in the design phase, 19 projects in the construction phase, and 14 projects completed.

Additional information, project profiles, and REDI news can be found here.

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