The city of Syracuse is planning to apply for $1.3 million in additional grant money from New York state for infrastructure improvements on two streets.

Syracuse originally requested $6.7 million from the state in 2016 for its Dig Once Infrastructure Improvement Project. At Wednesday’s meeting, city councilors discussed the proposed grant request. The funds would be used to replace water and sewer mains on North Beech Street and Butternut Street.

The city estimated that construction on both streets will start in summer 2019 and finish in fall 2020, according to the council’s agenda.

New York state will reimburse the city for all costs related to Dig Once, including the North Beech Street and Butternut Street projects. The funds will come from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, which provides funding to municipalities for construction projects.

City Engineer Mary Robison at Wednesday’s meeting said the city will reconstruct the two streets from curb to curb.

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The Common Council is also considering a grant application to the Dormitory Authority for the installation of cameras on several city streets. The $285,320 grant would expand the Syracuse Police Department’s existing camera project to the South Avenue and Westside areas.

Cameras would be installed in the Fitch Street, Tallman Avenue, South Avenue and Onondaga Street neighborhoods. Janet Burke, director of the city’s Bureau of Research, said the camera footage would be on a 30-day loop.

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Other proposed ordinances involve the repaving of Grant Boulevard and Park Street, as well as the repair of a bridge on Onondaga Street that passes over Onondaga Creek. The Dormitory Authority would provide grants for $1.2 million toward the repaving project and $259,000 toward the bridge project.

Both projects were previously approved, but the new ordinances change the cost of each.

Councilors are scheduled to vote on the proposed ordinances Monday.

Other business

A ruling from the Federal Communications Commission will force Syracuse to revise its licensing fees for cell phone and internet networks. The city planned to charge telecommunication companies between $1,000 and $2,000 annually to install 5G small cell technology on street poles.

The January FCC ruling limits the fees municipalities can charge to $270 per year, according to CNET. The council is rescinding the city’s ordinance, which passed in 2017, so Syracuse can create a new ordinance.

Published on February 20, 2019 at 7:49 pm

Contact Casey: casey@dailyorange.com | @caseydarnell_