Contact: David Pendergast

County Executive Chief of Staff
(315) 798-5800

Oneida County Executive Ralph J. Eannace Jr. announced today that Governor George E. Pataki's announcement of $6.7 million in highway safety grants means more resources for better safety on County roads and highways.

"The approval of the $6.7 million in grants through the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee will help us promote seat belt use and child passenger safety in Oneida County," Eannace said. "We have always taken the safety and well being of residents, especially on our roads and highways seriously and we will continue to improve local programs such as the Community Traffic Safety Program and the Child Passenger Safety Program in Village of Yorkville with the Governor's resources."

The $6.7 million will provide for 345 grants statewide totaling $6,656,744 for local highway safety projects, with emphasis on seat belt law enforcement, child passenger safety and increased detection of alcohol-impaired driving.

Oneida County will receive $120,000 for the Oneida County Comprehensive Occupant Restraint and Aggressive Driving Enforcement & Education, $20,000 for the Oneida County Community Traffic Safety Program Coordination and $5,250 for the Village of Yorkville Child Passenger Safety Program. Municipalities throughout the County will also receive a total of $64,120 for Buckle Up New York grants.