NEW YORK, NY July 09, 2009 —Vice President Joe Biden says New York state's road to economic recovery is being paved with almost 300 new transportation projects.

Biden says the $1.1 billion spent under the federal economic stimulus program will help areas across the state. The vice president appeared this afternoon at Shenendehowa High School north of Albany.

A spokesman for Democratic Rep. Scott Murphy says Biden's staff reached out to Murphy to set up the appearance in his district.

Murphy narrowly won the 20th Congressional District seat vacated when Kirsten Gillibrand succeeded Hillary Rodham Clinton in the U.S. Senate.