Griffo, Brindisi, Miller: New State Budget invests in needed infrastructure improvements

State Senator Joseph Griffo (R-C Rome) and Assemblymen Anthony Brindisi (D-Utica) and Bryan Miller (R-I-New Hartford) today announced the recently enacted 2018-2019 State Budget includes $10.2 billion to support infrastructure and public transportation. 
Under the new spending plan, the new state budget includes $478 million for the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) and the Marchiselli Program, while another $100 million in funding will continue the Pave NY Program.  The CHIPS Program helps municipalities make needed road repairs, while the Marchiselli Program helps communities cover the local share of road and bridge projects that are partly federally funded.  The Pave NY Program began two years ago to help localities renovate existing roads in need of repairs.
In addition, local governments will share in an additional $65 million in funding that will be distributed to cover costs associated with the recent extreme winter weather.  And, counties will share in $365,000 to help fund STOP DWI and ignition interlock programs.
The budget also includes significant funding for upstate New York transit systems.  In total, the budget includes $522.3 million for non-Metropolitan Transit Authority systems, and $104.5 million for non-MTA systems for capital projects.  And, the budget includes $3 million to upgrade diesel train engines to meet higher emissions standards.
“For the benefit of all New York residents and visitors, we need to make sure that our roads, bridges and other infrastructure are in the best shape possible. These funds will allow us to rehabilitate and modernize our roads, highways and bridges and will improve the safety of motorists and their families as they travel throughout the state. Doing so also can help to drive economic opportunity in our region and throughout state,” said Sen. Griffo.
“Many residents of the Mohawk Valley depend on safe, reliable roads and bridges, since their drives to work, school, and to important errands.  Many local roads took a real hit over the winter with some major storms, and the funding we have secured for municipalities will help them to make needed repairs to our region’s infrastructure system,” said Assemblyman Brindisi.
“It’s no secret that roads in upstate New York are in rough shape given the beating they take from the extreme weather, the snow plows and the salt every winter. We cannot, however, just accept unsafe conditions on roads that carry our most precious cargo – our children and families. That is why each and every year we fight for funding to maintain and improve our local roads and bridges. The funding we received this year will go a long way toward keeping our residents safe and keeping down the costs to local municipalities,” said Assemblyman Miller.