SLATER, ELECTED OFFICIALS & UNION LEADERS CALL FOR INCREASED ROAD SAFETY INVESTMENTS IN 2026 STATE BUDGET

NYSDOT Region 8, covering the Hudson Valley, has the worst-rated roads in NY

Assemblyman Matt Slater pictured at the press conference on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.

Assemblyman Matt Slater (R,C–Yorktown) joined Assembly colleagues, state senators and union leaders from more than a dozen local labor unions to call for increased road safety investments in the upcoming New York state budget.

Road safety advocates in attendance noted last year they were able to work with Gov. Kathy Hochul and deliver an increase to the New York State Department of Transportation NYSDOT Capital Plan of $800 million and in the Consolidated Local and Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) by $50 million for a total of $648.1 million. The NYSDOT’s five-year Capital Plan now stands at $34.1 billion. Included in the attendees’ call, held at the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 137 Training Center, was the need for an increase in overall funding to keep the momentum from the previous year.

The press conference was hosted by Jeff Loughlin, president of the Westchester Putnam Building and Construction Trades Council and business manager of IUOE Local 137, and John T. Cooney, executive director of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley, Inc. Representatives from Laborers (LiUNA) Local 60, Laborers (LiUNA) Local 17, Laborers (LiUNA) Local 754, Carpenters Local 279 and Teamsters Local 456 were also present.

Slater said, “We will not stop digging our heels in on this issue until we see that our roads get the funding and attention they need, especially when we were promised assistance that never came. The facts don’t lie, our region needs more investment, and you could argue this is a life-or-death situation when roads are so bad that accidents are happening because of their poor condition. Not only do we need to increase the allocation, but the money needs to flow. We’ve only spent 9% of this year’s lettings budget for Region 8, and just over half of the $1.6 billion committed through the MOU has been used. Until those dollars move, nothing changes on the ground. Thank you to my colleagues, Sen. Harckham and all the union leaders who are showing up together to fight for what our region deserves.”

“While there has been an appreciable commitment to funding road and transportation infrastructure repairs by Governor Hochul these past few years, now is the time to continue this momentum,” said Sen. Harckham. “This is especially true for the Hudson Valley region, which has more state roads in greater need of repair than anywhere else in New York. If we are serious about wanting to preserve our quality of life, foster economic growth and create good-paying jobs, then we need to make the critical investments necessary to ensure the safety and viability of our roadways.”

John T. Cooney said, “We thank Governor Hochul and the members of the New York State Legislature for the $800 million in increased funding for NYSDOT’s core program in last year’s budget. The Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley, along with our partners in organized labor, need to highlight the need for continued increased investment in New York state’s roads and bridges brought on by the over 30% inflation in construction materials post pandemic. But we are adamant that an increase of $950 million in NYSDOT’s core program is necessary to restore the buying power of the original NYSDOT five-year Capital Plan. In addition, an increase of $250 million to CHIPS is needed to restore the buying power necessary to maintain our local roads and bridges.

Jeff Loughlin said, “Our roadway infrastructure, which serves as the lifeblood of the state’s transportation network, is severely outdated and in dire need of major capital investments in New York State Region 8. I’m confident that the Governor will recognize we must continue to address these deficiencies, as they limit the region’s economic potential and put residents’ safety at risk. By maintaining important capital investments this year in our roadways and transportation infrastructure, we can provide good-paying jobs and strengthen our communities for the future.”

Todd Diorio, president of the Hudson Valley Building & Construction Trades Council and the business manager of the Eastern New York Laborers’ District Council, said, “Robust investment in New York’s transportation infrastructure is critical for motorist safety, job creation and maintaining the structural integrity of the state’s roads and bridges. We call on Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature to continue to prioritize transportation funding in the state budget process.”

An NYSDOT report released in August 2025 underscores how poor infrastructure conditions are in Region 8. Only 46.5% of roads were rated “good” or “excellent,” the lowest percentage statewide, and the region also ranks last for state and local bridge conditions.

Region 8 has also seen a steep decline in repaving, with lane miles cut nearly in half from 430 miles in 2022 to 245 miles in 2024. The region now has the worst repaving cycle in the state, averaging 16 years between resurfacing, compared to 12 years statewide.

According to a 2025 TRIP report, poor road and bridge conditions cost drivers $38 billion annually in vehicle damage, crashes and delays. The report further found that deferring maintenance only increases costs for state and local governments, with every $1 delayed leading to $4 to $5 in future repairs.