By Doug La Rocque
Highway Superintendents from across New York State gather one day every spring to lobby the state legislature for more money for local road repairs and improvements. In particular, they are looking for the small, continued increases in the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs) they have seen in recent years. Joining them was 107th District Assemblyman Jake Ashby, who is advocating for a $150 million increase in the CHIPs program, as well as the restoration of $65 million in the Extreme Weather Recovery Fund.
Following the session at the capitol, the Assemblyman said in part, “Our upstate communities need the State to be invested in helping repair and rebuild local roads and bridges. The majority of our roadways are maintained by local governments, and New York must be committed to increased funding. Our communities’ ability to thrive relies on the safety and functioning of our roadways. New York cannot skimp on investing in infrastructure.”
Nassua Highway Superintendent Fred McCagg is President of the Rensselaer County Highway Superintendent’s Association, and was one of those at the rally. He tells The Eastwick Press he is optimistic the lawmakers will continue to fund the CHIPs program under a formula that seems to give each of the towns in the eastern portion of the county a little bit more each year. He also noted, the Pave New York program, which has helped local towns upgrade some of their roads, will expire after the 2019-20 state budget. He says there appears to be bi-partisan support in the Assembly to extend the program another five years, but it still must meet with the approval of the State Senate and the Governor. Another program he is concerned about, is the Winter Recovery Fund. With the instances of extreme weather seemingly increasing over last couple of years, he calls this critically needed funding.
Mr. McCagg also spoke about a program being bandied about in the State Senate called SWAP. In a nutshell, it would provide localities money to upgrade in ground infrastructure, often antiquated, when roads and highways are to be repaved over it. He is hopeful of learning more about that in the near future.
Mr. McCagg’s overall impression from their day in Albany, is that he would hope the lawmakers would “see the need to kick the can a little further down the road” than they have been. But he is very glad “they are not kicking it backwards” either.
Caption: Assemblyman Jake Ashby (center) stands with area Highway Superintendents including Fred McCagg, (far right) at their annual lobby day at the State Capitol. Photo provided.