By Rockland Daily Staff

As part of Governor Kathy Hochul's announcement Thursday awarding $43.2 million in roadway safety funding to local governments across New York, the Village of Chestnut Ridge was among the municipalities selected to receive funding. The village was awarded $568,000 to improve safety along South Pascack Road.

The funding will be used to widen the roadway shoulder and remove fixed roadside objects along South Pascack Road, improvements designed to reduce the severity of crashes and better protect motorists who inadvertently leave their travel lane. 

The grant is part of a statewide $43.2 million funding package awarded to local governments through the State Department of Transportation's "Safe System" initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities by making roads more forgiving and reducing the likelihood of serious injuries in crashes. According to the state, nearly 44 percent of fatal crashes in New York involve vehicles departing from their lane.