Union leaders want state to provide $950 million to keep up with crumbling roads, rising costs
At a press conference at IUOE Local 137 training center in Montrose, union leaders said the cost of materials has risen 30% since the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Local lawmakers and union leaders are pressing for more funding in the 2026 state budget to actually make a noticeable difference in the condition of Hudson Valley roads.
Though most state leaders and lawmakers support increasing funding to make up for increases in project costs, the request for nearly $1 billion more dollars to fund the final year of a five-year capital plan is a tough ask for Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Union leaders are concerned the state Department of Transportation might not have the money to keep up with constant repairs on crumbling state roads, especially those in the Hudson Valley region.
Erika Arevalo, of Ossining, said one state road on her cross-county commute was recently repaired while another — Route 9A outside Ossining — is worsening.She said the potholes ruined the lugnuts on one of her wheels.
"It took them like years to fix that," she said. "And now we're over here trying to get this one fixed as well. So what's taking so long?"
At a press conference at IUOE Local 137 training center in Montrose, union leaders said the cost of materials has risen 30% since the COVID-19 pandemic.
That means the DOT's five-year, $34 billion capital plan, which was written before the prices rose, might not cover all the scheduled repairs.Union leaders are lobbying for another $950 million in this year's state budget.
"Our infrastructure has deteriorated over time," said John Cooney, of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester and the Hudson Valley. "And what we're looking for is to provide a general public services that needs to be provided."
State Sen. Pete Harkham said such securing that much money will likely take some convincing since this budget season will bring with it several variables.
"All of us are supportive of funding for pre-K and for child care," Harkham said. "We are getting $3.5 billion less from the federal government for health care this year. So, there are budget realities we have to deal with."
A spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul pointed out that last year's increase to the capital plan of $800 million will allow the agency to prioritize repairs on 13 Hudson Valley roads including I-287, a portion of Route 1 and Route 9A outside Ossining.
Union leaders said that if the state does not allocate more money this year, some of those project might not be completed as planned.
