Statement from Rebuild NY Now President Mike Elmendorf on New York State Budget Negotiations
Inflation and material cost escalation have consumed a full year of NYSDOT Capital Funding
“As budget negotiations hopefully approach conclusion, a critical question remains: What will the Governor and Legislature do about funding for the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Capital Program?
Inflation and material cost escalation have taken a more than 20% bite out of the spending power of the NYSDOT Capital Plan. In other words, funding for a whole year of the 5-year plan has evaporated.
Will Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie and the Assembly move toward the New York Senate Majority’s proposal to fully fund the NYSDOT Capital Plan advanced by Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Tim Kennedy and their colleagues?
Or, will we await announcements on which projects currently in the Capital Plan will be canceled—which roads and bridges across New York will not be rebuilt as planned, falling further into disrepair?
New York already has among the worst road and bridge conditions in the country. We cannot afford to allow that to happen.”
About Rebuild NY Now
Rebuild NY Now is a broad-based coalition comprising members of the construction industry, organized labor and business enterprises, representing more than 30,000 workers and their families with the common goal of investing in infrastructure to ensure the safety and economic health of New York State.
