Assemblyman Rob Walker recently announced that Nassau County will be receiving $6.1 million in Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding of the $363 million provided to the state by the 2005 Transportation Bond Act and legislative additions.

"This CHIPS funding is extremely important to our county, towns and villages in order to maintain the quality of roads throughout the state," said Walker. "At a time when the legislature is approving red light cameras to reduce the number of accidents caused by drivers running red lights, we must also be sure that the infrastructure of Nassau County is of high enough quality to ensure the safety of the drivers who utilize all its roadways."

The Town of Oyster Bay received $1,293,998 in the 2009-2010 fiscal year. According to a town spokesperson, the funds are slated to be used for an area in Massapequa.

The Village of Brookville is to receive $56,367 to be used toward local road improvements.

"Assemblyman Rob Walker has been working tirelessly on our behalf," said Brookville's mayor Caroline Zimmermann Bazzini. "In these economic times, CHIPS funding is more meaningful than ever. Our roads have had a very hard winter and we plan to use the CHIPS proceeds toward Brookville Road improvements and toward dry well installations at drainage problem areas, thus helping to improve safety in our village."

The Village of Muttontown is slated to receive $68,865 in CHIPS funding. According to a spokesperson for the Village of Muttontown, these funds are applied for after a project has been identified and the application must be for a specific project. The funds were used in Muttontown to correct a long-standing drainage problem in one of the neighborhoods.

"We were happy to hear that the CHIPS program was refunded as part of the state budget because it is money that municipalities count on to bridge the gaps in our infrastructure program," said Mayor Julianne W. Beckerman.

Also to receive funds are the Village of Old Brookville ($45,863) and the Village of Upper Brookville ($37,768).

For more information, please visit: www.nysdot.gov.