Albany Update
Kleiner Center Improvements Secure $6.6 Million in NY State Funding
MIDDLETOWN, NY—City of Middletown officials heard some good news from the New York State Assembly, followed by more good news from the State Senate.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, as part of his annual statewide tour in Orange County, with Assemblymember Paula Elaine Kay announced at the press conference on Sept. 4 a total of $3.3 million in state funding to revitalize the Kleiner Center located adjacent to the e campus of Fei Tian College (soon to be operating as Northern University). The funding will revitalize the property and transform it a destination for the arts and community programming as an intergenerational, multipurpose center.
“Our communities need and deserve places where they can come together and connect with each other across generations,” Speaker Heastie said. “This funding will allow Middletown to renovate and revitalize the Kleiner Center and make it a destination for families here in Orange County.”
“This project is so important to our community here in Middletown,” Assemblymember Kay said. “This funding will give families of all ages a place to meet and develop stronger connections. Thank you to Speaker Heastie for joining us today for this important announcement and understanding the significance of the Kleiner Center for the future of the City of Middletown.”
At the press conference, State Sen. James Skoufis announced that the State Senate was going to match the Assembly’s funding for the project, bringing the total aid package to $6.6 million. He credited State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for being instrumental in helping secure the State Senate’s share of the funding for the Kleiner Center project.
The Kleiner Center was built in 1968 as a recreation center for the Middletown State Psychiatric Center. Since its closure in 2006, the building has been deteriorating. This funding will help turn the center into a modern facility for community programming and engagement, including a theater and auditorium, a gymnasium, studios and conference rooms. The goal is to provide the community with intergenerational programming to connect young people, adults and seniors through shared cultural experiences.
Sen. Skoufis told Mid Hudson News, “This building has sat here, mothballed, collecting dust, with squatters and fires in vacant buildings around this campus and we’re going to turn it into a state-of-the art cultural, arts, tourist magnet and a classroom space, studio space for the college, community space for the city of Middletown and surrounding area. This is going to be a majestic building at the end of this project, and that is real economic development that taxpayers can support.”
Thruway Authority Surveys Customers At 27 Service-Area Fueling Facilities
ALBANY—The New York State Thruway Authority is conducting a customer survey aimed at shaping the future of fueling facilities at the 27 service area locations along the Thruway system. With the current fuel contracts set to expire in 2027, the authority is seeking public input in an effort to help shape a Request for Proposals that will be sent out in 2026.
“The Thruway Authority is dedicated to providing a modern, efficient and customer-first experience for every traveler that uses our system,” said Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare, Esq. “As we prepare for the next generation of fueling services, this comprehensive survey is a critical step in ensuring that upgrades reflect the real needs and expectations of both commercial and non-commercial drivers. We’re inviting all users to help shape the future of fueling on New York’s Main Street.”
The survey is now live on the Thruway Authority’s website and will remain open through the end of September. It is designed to gather feedback on a wide range of topics including preferred fuel types, payment options, convenience store features and sustainability initiatives.
The Thruway Authority encourages participation from all customers, including passenger vehicle drivers and commercial trucking companies. The survey takes less than five minutes to complete and is accessible via mobile and desktop devices.
TA’s Call to All Drivers: Help Us Improve Your Experience
All Thruway users are encouraged to participate, regardless of vehicle type. The survey includes questions regarding:
- Visit Frequency and Purpose
- Vehicle Type
- Fueling Experience and Preferences
- Suggestions for Improvement
- Commercial Drivers: Your Voice Matters
Commercial drivers are invited to share their experiences and insights.
Key topics include:
- Truck Parking Availability
- Fuel Purchasing Habits
- Travel Patterns
- Electric Vehicle Readiness (Medium and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicles)
Passenger electric vehicle charging stations are not included in the upcoming fuel contract. Facilities for EVs will continue to be installed and maintained exclusively by Applegreen Electric under the current service area lease agreement.
Responses will directly inform the development of the next fuel services contract, ensuring that future facilities meet the evolving needs of Thruway users. Visit ThruwayFuel.com to participate.
Thruway Service Area Redesign, Redevelopment Project Updates
ALBANY—The Thruway Authority’s Service Area Redesign and Redevelopment Project is winding down with one final location scheduled to reopen by the end of 2025. The project began in 2021 and all 27 service areas were redeveloped as part of a $450-million public-private partnership with Empire State Thruway Partners. No toll or tax dollars were used for construction.
As part of the project, Applegreen is in the process of installing at least four universal high-speed charging stations (Level 3) at every service area with up to 350kW of power that support all electric vehicles, including Tesla. There will be up to eight chargers at the larger service area locations. Currently, there are 79 universal high-speed charging (Level 3) stations available on the Thruway. By the end of 2025, 115 Level 3 stations are expected to be in operation across the 570-mile Thruway system.
DASNY Prices $2.04 Billion Bond Issue For Transportation, Schools, Hospitals
ALBANY—The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York priced $2.04 billion in New York State Personal Income Tax Revenue Bonds, with proceeds used to reimburse the state for expenditures made on a variety of capital projects for SUNY community colleges, hospitals and educational facilities, New York Transportation Works projects and to refund certain outstanding state-supported debt.
The negotiated sale was led by Bank of America Securities with Siebert Williams Shank and Wells Fargo as co-senior managers. The Series 2025C bonds are tax-exempt.
The retail order period began on Wed., Sept. 3 and received significant demand followed by the institutional order period on Thurs. Sept. 4. During the retail order period, more than $1 billion in orders were placed. Following the successful retail order period, the transaction received $9 billion in institutional orders. As a result of the extraordinary retail and institutional demand resulting in almost five times in oversubscriptions, yields were adjusted lower between 2 and 10 basis points. Yields for the tax-exempt transaction range from 2.25% to 4.93%.
The bond proceeds will also be used to refund DASNY State Personal Income Tax Revenue Bonds Series 2015E and DASNY Sales Tax Revenue Bonds Series 2015B.
Public Resources Advisory Group and Backstrom McCarley Berry served as Financial Advisors. Nixon Peabody and Bryant Rabbino served as Co-Bond Counsel.
State Personal Income Tax Revenue Bonds are issued periodically for various purposes and are supported by a portion of the State’s Personal Income Tax revenues. The bonds were expected to close on Sept. 11, 2025.
Published: September 15, 2025