Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,I,C-Batavia) recently joined legislative colleagues and local highway officials to advocate for greater attention to road and bridge repair. Partnering with fellow state representatives as well as mayors, county executives and highway superintendents, Hawley highlighted the need to support the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs), which provides the bulk of state aid to counties and towns for the maintenance and improvement of local roads and bridges.

“The quality of our roads and bridges has a great impact on our safety and our overall quality of life,” said Hawley. “Sound infrastructure helps facilitate the flow of goods and services that boost our economy, while repair and maintenance projects help create local jobs. CHIPs funding is a critical component in how the state partners with localities to make our communities great places to live, work and raise a family, and I am proud to stand alongside my colleagues to fight for the crucial projects CHIPs funding supports.”

The governor has proposed $363.1 million in CHIPs funding in his proposed 2013-14 State Budget, the same level as last year. The legislators and local highway superintendents are calling for a CHIPs funding increase of $100 million, from $363.1 million to $463.1 million. They note that local roads and bridges account for 82 percent of the roads, 52 percent of the bridges, and 48 percent of the vehicle mileage logged in New York State. A recent report from State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, “Cracks in the Foundation,” called 32 percent of New York's local bridges deficient and 40 percent of local roads fair or poor, and getting worse.

Among those joining Hawley and his legislative colleagues at the event were officials from the NYS County Highway Superintendents Association (NYSCHSA), NYS Association of Town Superintendents of Highways (NYSAOTSOH), NYS Association of Counties (NYSAC), New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM), and the Association of Towns of the State of New York.