The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Higher CHIPs Funding For Local Highways

By

by Alex Brooks
This year Town and County Highway Superintendents have successfully pressured the State government to increase funding for local highway aid known as CHIPS (Consolidated Highway Improvement Program).
The CHIPS money, which provides State funding to municipalities for construction and repair of local highways and bridges, has been level-funded at $363 million statewide for the last five years.
[private]Cuomo’s original budget for the upcoming year had an increase for New York State transportation funding but showed no increase for the CHIPS program. In March hundreds of town and county highway superintendents showed up in Albany for an advocacy day. They created a web site and attracted the support of many state legislators who jointly sent a letter to Governor Cuomo asking for an increase in CHIPS funding.
The superintendents’ talking points pointed out that 87% of the road mileage in the state and half of the bridges are maintained by towns and counties. They noted that fuel costs have gone up by 190% and asphalt costs have gone up by 206% over the last ten years. They cited a report by the State Comptroller which found that 32% of bridges in the state and 40% of roads are rated in poor condition and deteriorating.
The state budget worked out over the last few weeks includes an increase of $75 million in CHIPS funding, the first hike in funding in five years. This will provide significant additional highway money to each of the local towns. The increase for our local towns ranges from a 26% to a 28% increase:
Berlin $23,022
Grafton $23,860
Hoosick $26,695
Petersburgh $17,736
Pittstown $52,938
Poestenkill $18,357
Sand Lake $33,665
Stephentown $28,208
Hoosick Falls $24,682
Governor Cuomo said in a press release, “By investing in rebuilding our state’s transportation infrastructure we are helping to grow local economies and create jobs in all corners of the state. During these difficult fiscal times, this $75 million increase in CHIPS funding is a big victory for our state’s localities that will be able to use these much needed funds to make repairs to local highways, bridges and roads and at the same time support job growth and economic development in their communities.”[/private]