Feds hold up funding for Syosset road project

A long-awaited project to rebuild and widen a mile-long stretch of Jackson Avenue in Syosset has wound up in jeopardy after the U.S. Department of Transportation said it did not meet federal regulations, stopping the project's funding.

The decision came when the department discovered a series of errors Nassau County made in the development of the project, according to a department memo provided to Newsday.

The $7.8-million project would widen and repave Jackson Avenue between Jericho Turnpike and the Long Island Rail Road station in Syosset. The road, used by an estimated 20,000 vehicles every day, has needed repair for years, residents say.

Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington) had secured $3 million for the project, and the county had set aside money to pay for the rest, according to Nassau Legis. Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury). When the federal stimulus bill was approved last February, the county decided to apply for a grant to cover its share.

But a Department of Transportation memo outlines five mistakes made by Nassau's Department of Public Works. Because the project was found not to meet federal standards, a source said, it is no longer eligible for the $3 million procured by Israel.

County Executive Edward Mangano blamed the administration of his predecessor, Thomas Suozzi, for "rookie mistakes" that caused critical stimulus funds to be lost.

"The Suozzi administration completely dropped the ball on this project," Mangano said in a statement. Suozzi declined to comment.

Marc Herbst, executive director of the Long Island Contractors' Association, said the fault lies with more stringent federal rules. "Originally, the federal government said 'shovel ready.' What they did not make clear is 'shovel ready, by federal standards,' " he said.

Jacobs said better communication from federal officials could have prevented the errors.

" . . . were thrown a curve here," Jacobs said. "The county went along with what they normally do, and obviously thought they were on the right track."

The fate of the project is unclear. Jacobs, the former presiding officer of the legislature, said the county's capital fund could be tapped for the work. Mangano spokesman Michael Martino disagreed.

Israel said he was disappointed that "someone in Nassau County dropped the ball" and he would try to identify other ways to pay for the work.