Assemblyman Joseph M. Giglio (R,C,I-Gowanda) today joined his Assembly colleagues and highway superintendents from Cattaraugus and Allegany counties at a press conference to call on Gov. Cuomo to increase funding for local roads, bridges and infrastructure across New York State through the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS).

“After the brutal winter we just endured, additional CHIPS funding for our local roads and bridges is critical,” said Assemblyman Giglio. “Our winters have been severe these last couple of years, and the amount of salt needed to clear the snow and ice has taken its toll on our roads and bridges. The CHIPS funding formula is a fair and equitable distribution of assistance to our local governments based on road mileage. Every dollar of CHIPS funding provided to counties, cities, towns, and villages is one less dollar of real property taxes that needs to be raised.”

“I joined highway superintendents and my Assembly colleagues to call on Gov. Cuomo to recognize the importance of the work of our highway officials and to call for an increase in funding,” said Giglio. “Unfortunately, transportation and infrastructure funding is an issue that has not received the attention it deserves. I’m truly thankful to the group of local highway officials who have traveled to Albany year after year to advocate for funding that is spent directly on our roads and bridges.”

In Albany, Assemblyman Giglio was joined by Guy James, the Allegany County Department of Public Works Superintendent, and numerous town and village highway superintendents from Cattaraugus and Allegany counties.

“I’m happy to stand with Assemblyman Giglio, his colleages in the Legislature, and our highway officials to demonstrate the importance of CHIPS funding and to advocate for an increase,” said Allegany County DPW Superintendent Guy James. “Each dollar invested in the CHIPS program is wisely spent. I know that taxpayers and motorists appreciate and expect their local roads to be in good condition. As highway officials, we can always do more work if additional resources are provided.”

Assemblyman Giglio was also joined in Albany by officials from the NYS County Highway Superintendents Association, Association of Town Superintendents of Highways, Association of Counties, Conference of Mayors, and the Association of Towns of the State of New York to call for increased CHIPS funding in this year’s budget. Today’s press event coincides with the weeklong “Local Roads Matter” campaign sponsored by the county and town highway superintendents associations.