Local highway departments maintain an astonishing 87% of New York’s road systems and more than half of all bridges. It’s clear our local infrastructure must be a top priority for us all.
Last week, representatives from the New York State County Highway Superintendents Association and NYS Association of Town Superintendents of Highways gathered to remind us that state infrastructure is local infrastructure and to advocate for the priorities that would benefit our community’s roads and bridges. That did not fall on deaf ears and, as we move closer to a final state budget, I am going to keep fighting for more resources for our roads and highways.
Our highway superintendents have been clear – the need for investment is substantial, and the longer we wait, the more the costs increase. State and county highway associations report that it costs five times more to rebuild a bridge and 16 times more to replace pavement than it costs to keep existing infrastructure in a state of good repair.
Well-maintained roads keep our communities safe, and I’m going to be fighting to ensure Orange County gets the resources it needs from the state budget.
