A dedication ceremony honoring fallen DOT worker Dennis “Matt” Howe was held on Oct. 29 at the Tioga County DOT Residency located at 1497 State Route 96 in Owego, N.Y.
A portion of the State Highway System in Tioga County will honor Howe, who lost his life in March from injuries he sustained when a tractor-trailer collided with his advance-warning vehicle that was set up to alert motorists of a DOT work zone on Route 17/86. The section of highway will be designated as the “Dennis ‘Matt’ Howe Memorial Highway.”
The road sign was unveiled at the dedication ceremony. Also unveiled was a stone memorial placed at the entrance to the Tioga County DOT facility. The stone, designed by Howe’s co-workers, includes his name, birth and death dates, and the words, “Work Zone Intrusion accident on NY 17. Proudly serving NYSDOT 2006-2019.”
Attending the ceremony were Howe’s family, friends and co-workers, along with State Senator Fred Akshar, DOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez, and several area officials. Many wore brightly colored apparel featuring the hashtag, #moveoverformatt.
Senator Akshar and State Assembly Member Christopher Friend introduced and sponsored the legislation to designate a portion of the highway in honor of Howe. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo authorized and signed the legislation in August.
Speaking at the dedication ceremony were Senator Akshar, Commissioner Dominguez, and the Tioga County Legislative Chair, Marte Sauerbrey.
Senator Akshar remarked, “We are a community that honors our heroes, and we recognize the difficult sacrifices that they’ve made. The men and women of DOT are there to help keep us safe on the road, and they put their lives on the line every single day.”
Senator Akshar further commented that DOT workers are everyday heroes, just like a member of the military or law enforcement, and said that Matt Howe was an everyday hero, too, and just like his brothers and sisters at the DOT.
He added, “Nothing can ever undo this tragedy. We’re coming together as a community to make sure Matt’s legacy is part of this community and serves as a reminder for everybody to slow down and pay attention.”
Sauerbrey shared that witnessing the DOT family who came together at Howe’s funeral was very moving and powerful, and remarked, “Thanks to all of you who put your lives in danger. We appreciate it and say thank you.”
Commissioner Dominguez thanked Howe’s wife and children for the ultimate sacrifice Matt made.
She stated, “Matt Howe left an imprint, and he gave up his life in service to the public. Starting today, we are memorializing a section of Route 17,” and added that an even better tribute to Howe is to, “Take on educating our citizens about the Move Over Law.”
Commissioner Dominguez continued, “Slow down and safely move over. These people put their lives on the line to make our travel safer and want to go home at night. Use courtesy and common sense and follow the law,” adding, “These tragedies are preventable, so slow down and move over. It truly does save lives.”
New York’s Move Over Law, enacted in 2011 and expanded twice in 2016, protects workers along the roadway, and gives law enforcement more authority to penalize violators. The Move Over Law protects volunteer firefighters and ambulance crews, law enforcement and sanitation vehicles, and other emergency or hazard vehicles. The law applies to both sides of the roadway, and not just the right shoulder.
Assembly Member Christopher S. Friend (R-137) offered these comments via a press release, “It is unfortunate that tragic events are our strongest reminders of our responsibilities to one another. May this memorial help remind all drivers to carefully slow down and be vigilant of those maintaining and protecting our roads.”
The “Dennis ‘Matt’ Howe Memorial Highway” is located on Route 17/86 between Exit 63 (Lounsberry) and Exit 62 (Nichols).
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