Niskayuna Gets $1M State Grant for River Road Water Main

The Town of Niskayuna will replace a deteriorating section of water main along River Road using $1 million in state funding announced this week by the Schenectady County Metroplex Authority.

The grant, part of a $6 million infrastructure package through the Focused Attraction of Shovel-Ready Tracts New York program, will fund replacement between the GE circle and Blatnick Park. The current line experiences frequent breaks that disrupt water service and traffic.

"We regularly have water main breaks along here which severely impact water service and traffic in the area," said Daniel Bolke, town water, sewer, and engineering superintendent. "This project is shovel ready. We have already prepared the plans, and with this grant we are able to progress toward construction."

The project supports expansion of the GE Vernova campus on Balltown Road into an advanced research and development hub for energy technologies. Empire State Development said the enhanced infrastructure will enable additional buildout for companies focused on energy transition, including decarbonization, alternative fuels, grid technology, and critical infrastructure security.

"This is a win-win," said Town Supervisor Erin Cassady-Dorion. "It positions GE Vernova for continued growth while upgrading an aging water main in town."