When discussing the county’s roads, Mr. Latimer said he wished he could make improvements to all county-owned and maintained roads, but noted that the 2024 budget involves the next phase of the county’s road improvement efforts.

County Budget Director Lawrence Soule noted, “This capital budget continues the Latimer Administration’s commitment of investing in critical infrastructure, creating additional units of affordable housing and promoting environmental sustainability.”

Some of the highlights of the of the 2024 capital plan include:

Parkways / Bridges / Roads

The most significant project to be funded in 2024 is the Bronx River Parkway Rehabilitation Program, which will receive $18.82 million towards the total project cost of nearly $82 million. The 2024 capital monies will fund the rehabilitation on the Bronx River Parkway from the Bronx/Westchester Line to the Kensico Circle.  The project will provide a life span of 15 years to 20 years on the asphalt roadway surface, county officials stated.

The county is proposing a total of $19.1 million in road and bridge work in 2024, broken down as $4.97 million in bridge projects and $14.14 million in road work.

The most significant bridge project involves $3.5 million in funding for the replacement of the Tuckahoe Road Bridge over the Bronx River Parkway in Yonkers (total project cost: $4.4 million).

The largest road project is at Old Mamaroneck Road in White Plains, which is to receive $4 million in the 2024 capital budget.

Other notable road and bridge work included in the 2024 Capital Budget proposal are:

Bridges – NYS Route 22 over Armonk Rd, North Castle, $1.046 million in 2024 ($17.5 million Total Project cost-TPC) and Westchester Ave over Mamaroneck River, White Plains, $425,000 in 2024 ($5.025 million TPC)

Roads – Murray Ave., Town of Mamaroneck, $1.485 million in 2024; McLean Ave., Yonkers, $575,000; South Ridge St., Rye Brook, $1.7 million; Columbus Ave., Mount Pleasant, $2.3 million; Seven Bridges Rd., New Castle, $2.66 million; and Westchester Ave., White Plains/Harrison $1.42 million in 2024 ($12.2 million TPC).

Other significant facets of the capital plan include:

Environmental Conservation/Flood Mitigation – The county has allocated a total of $49.2 million for flood mitigation, with the lion’s share of the funding—$18.2 million going to the Village of Mamaroneck to help fund the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake Rivers Army Corps of Engineers project, valued at approximately $100 million, according to County Executive Latimer.

The capital budget includes an additional $20 million for electric vehicle charging infrastructure at county and municipal locations plus $5 million for the EV Partnership program with local municipalities.

In the environmental conservation sphere, the capital budget provides an additional $20 million for electric vehicle charging infrastructure at county and municipal locations plus $5 million for the EV Partnership program with local municipalities.

Parks – Within the County Parks System, $25 million has been allocated for improvements at the Westchester County Center in White Plains and $6.93 million for the Bronx River Pathway. Additionally, $2 million is in the budget for improvements at Hilltop Hanover Environmental Center in Yorktown Heights.

Buildings – Of the $21.8 million proposed for this budget line, the county has also earmarked $8 million for improvements to the County Office Building in White Plains and $3.9 million for infrastructure rehabilitation of its offices in Mount Vernon. In total, the county’s Department of Public Works has proposed 10 projects for county building and parking facilities totaling $47 million in capital funding.

Housing – County Executive Latimer reported that the 2024 Capital Budget includes a combined $50 million for land acquisition and infrastructure improvements to support the development of affordable housing within the county.

The county will also be receiving $50 million in 2024 for the Affordable Housing Investment Fund to be funded with ARPA funds for further development of workforce housing within the county. Total spending related to affordable housing in 2024 will therefore be approximately $100 million in county and federal funds.

Refuse Disposal District – A total of $12 million has been added for the Blind Brook Waste Water Recovery Facility bio solids handling and $17 million is included in the capital budget for the North Yonkers Sewer District pumping station rehabilitation. Also, another $25 million is included for improvements to the Yonkers Joint Treatment Plant for odor control and HVAC upgrades and $20 million is included for the structural rehabilitation at the Ossining Water Resource Recovery Facility.

The Westchester County Board of Legislators will begin its review of the proposed Capital Budget and the proposed Operating Budget, and are expected to pass both budgets by the end of December 2023.