One of the biggest legislative challenges in Albany is to make sure we have parity in state spending between upstate and downstate New York. This is particularly challenging for transportation spending. Downstate New York relies on mass transit for its transportation needs, while in Upstate, we are much more dependent on our cars. Accordingly, the […]
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One of the biggest legislative challenges in Albany is to make sure we have parity in state spending between upstate and downstate New York. This is particularly challenging for transportation spending. Downstate New York relies on mass transit for its transportation needs, while in Upstate, we are much more dependent on our cars. Accordingly, the needs of each region tend to be very different. Downstate, to a great degree, relies on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to maintain its bus, subway, and train systems, and Upstate depends on the Department of Transportation (DOT) to maintain its roads and bridges.
Recently, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio announced that they had reached an agreement for the state to provide the MTA with an additional $8.3 billion to go toward the MTA’s five-year capital program (which was facing a nearly $11 billion funding gap). This may be a very necessary investment for the downstate transit system. However, as New York is committing to making this substantial investment downstate, the governor must recognize that upstate’s transportation system also needs substantial investment. It should be noted that from 2010-15, the MTA received $23.8 billion for its five-year capital plan, while the DOT during the same time received $18.6 billion to maintain its aging and crumbling infrastructure. This is a difference of $5.2 billion.
In a recent report, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave New York’s roads and bridges grades of D- and D+, respectively. TRIP, a national transportation advocacy group, estimates that poor road and bridge conditions in New York cost drivers $2,300 annually in lost time, fuel costs, vehicle repairs, and other expenses. Indeed, even our own DOT estimates that the state spends half of what we need on transportation each year.
Advocacy does make a difference on these issues. In 2013, due to the pressure put on by myself, several of my upstate legislative colleagues, and highway superintendents throughout the state, we were able to get a $75 million increase in base funding for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS). That’s the program that provides aid to our local highway departments. In addition, over the last two years, we were able to secure an additional $40 million and $50 million, respectively, in winter recovery funds, dispersed through the CHIPS formula to help our local municipalities maintain our roads in the harsh winters. This year, CHIPS received $438 million.
More needs to be done, however, and it should be done on par with downstate. If the governor is going to find $8.3 billion in this year’s state budget for the MTA, equal amounts should be also dedicated to upstate’s roads and bridges, which are also in desperate need of repair.
William (Will) A. Barclay is the Republican representative of the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses most of Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton, as well as the town of Lysander in Onondaga County and town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County. Contact him at barclaw@assembly.state.ny.us, or (315) 598-5185.