Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I-Sag Harbor) today announced that legislation he sponsors with Senator Anna M. Kaplan (D-North Hills), requiring the New York State Department of Transportation to annually prepare and submit to the legislature certain highway pavement and bridge condition reports, was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul as Chapter #726 of the Laws of 2021.

This new law will help inform the Legislature and the public as to where funding is needed and being appropriated in an effort to repair and maintain New York's roads and bridges. It codifies a similar reporting concept that was included in the Department of Transportation (DOT) 2015-19 five-year capital plan.In addition to highway and bridge conditions, the report shall also include information regarding capital program letting and implementation, capital program accomplishments, and non-MTA downstate suburban and upstate transit capital programs.

“As our infrastructure continues to age, we must ensure that state resources go to the projects that are in need of repair,” said Assemblymember Thiele. “Thanks to the legislation I sponsored with Senator Kaplan, the public and the Legislature will have access to the reports on our roads that will be crucial to smart investments by New York State. I want to thank the Senator for her partnership and Governor Hochul for signing this measure into law.”