Route 118 dedication for Jake Arcara signed into law

A portion of Route 118 in Yorktown has been renamed in honor of the late Jake Arcara, a town highway department worker was tragically killed in a work zone accident in 2022.

In a joint press release, Sen. Pete Harckham and Assemblyman Matt Slater said a section of Route 118 also known as Saw Mill River Road, between Underhill Avenue and Old Country Way has been named the “Jake Arcara Worker’s Memorial Highway.” The law was signed  by Gov. Kathy Hochul  today and takes effect immediately. 

“I’m honored and grateful that this section of Route 118 in Yorktown will be renamed in the memory of my son Jake Arcara,” Kelly Arcara said. “He loved Yorktown, and I know he’ll be looking over all who will drive on the roadways here. It shattered my heart to lose my beloved son; however, I am so touched by this outpouring of love for Jake, who served this town so well.”

Arcara died while on the job at age 28 when he was struck by a driver in a work zone on Sept. 14, 2022.

“Jake was taken from us far too soon, but with this highway dedication, a part of his memory now lives on,” Harckham said in the release. “As we honor his life, we must also acknowledge the tragic circumstances of his passing—and renew our commitment to improving road safety for all. I hope this dedication serves not only as a lasting tribute to Jake Arcara but also as a symbol of strength and unity for the Yorktown community.”

Harckham and Slater worked jointly on the legislation and thanked the governor for signing it.

“Jake’s death shook our entire community. He was doing his job, and devastatingly, he never made it home,”  Slater said. “Naming a portion of our state highway system in his honor ensures his legacy lives on as a dedicated public servant, but even more so, it acts as a catalyst for action to prevent another senseless tragedy.”

The incident spurred support for additional work zone safety measures, including “Jake’s Law,” a bill introduced by Harckham and Slater that would allow Yorktown to install temporary speed cameras in work zones and fine motorists who put highway workers at risk. Slater has also led the Assembly’s annual resolution honoring Arcara during National Work Zone Awareness Week.

Yorktown Highway Superintendent Dave Paganelli also expressed gratitude in the release, calling his department a “family” that Arcara was — and will always be — a part of.

"We strive to keep Jake’s memory alive in perpetuity and feel this will be instrumental in achieving that goal," Paganelli said.