Following a press conference today in Albany, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) called on legislative leaders and Gov. Cuomo to increase funding in this year’s budget for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS). Currently, the governor has proposed no increase in CHIPS funding in his executive budget.

“As I’ve said for many years, Western New York’s infrastructure needs are preeminent,” Hawley said. “Our roads, bridges and highways are constantly bombarded with ice wedging, agriculture vehicles and automobiles. Unlike downstate, we have few mass transit systems, so local families and businesses rely on these routes each day and expect them to be safe. Unfortunately, the governor and New York City politicians refuse to provide us the resources necessary to sustain our infrastructure. No increase in CHIPS funding would be devastating for our communities and I urge legislative leaders to do what is right for upstate.”

Hawley is one of Western New York’s leading proponents for increased infrastructure funding. His Assembly District alone contains 56 percent of the lift bridges on the entire Erie Canal system and major portions of the Lake Ontario State Parkway that are in dire need of repair. Hawley has written the Gov. multiple times in conjunction with other legislators and sent a video illustrating the condition of the parkway.