Assemblyman Matt Slater (R,C-Yorktown) joined countless legislators from both sides of the aisle and highway superintendents and crews from every corner of the state for a press conference at the Capitol calling for state funding to restore our deteriorating roads, bridges and culverts. The legislators specifically called for an increase to the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS), which the governor has proposed keeping flat in her executive budget at $538 million.

“Safe and reliable infrastructure is about more than fixing our potholes and repaving roads,” Slater said. “Study after study has shown our bridges and transportation infrastructure to be seriously deficient. Our emergency vehicles need the ability to race to a call quickly, our farmers’ success relies on transporting heavy loads to market and our families need peace of mind when they’re going to the weekend soccer game. We are calling on Gov. Hochul and legislative leaders to put politics aside and join us in increasing CHIPS. We can’t kick the can down the road another year.”

The New York State Association of County Highway Superintendents and New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways, Inc. recently launched a ‘Local Roads are Essential’ advocacy campaign which coincides with today’s effort by legislators.