Assemblyman Josh Jensen (R,C-Greece)and the Monroe County Town and Village Highway Superintendents hosted a Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) rally alongside the at Ogden Highway Garage.

The event brought together New York State Assemblymembers Harry Bronson, Andrea Bailey, Brian Manktelow, local elected officials including Ogden Town Supervisor Mike Zale, highway superintendents from across Monroe and Orleans counties, industry partners and community advocates committed to increasing CHIPS funding for this year.

CHIPS funding is critical to ensuring local communities can maintain safe roads, bridges and essential infrastructure. Increased investment in CHIPS directly supports economic growth, public safety and the long-term sustainability of our communities. As highway construction costs have increased by 70% over the last three years, it’s critical our state increase its investment to CHIPS funding. Advocates at the rally emphasized that consistent, increased CHIPS funding is essential to the long-term sustainability and quality of life of communities across Monroe County and New York state.

“Investing in CHIPS is a smart investment in jobs, local economies, and long-term growth,” said Jensen. “This is about fairness and common sense. Inflation has driven construction costs up by nearly 70 percent—yet CHIPS funding has stayed flat. A $250 million increase is not optional, it’s essential. Without it, communities across New York will fall further behind, and taxpayers will pay far more down the road.

“Thank you to Parma Highway Superintendent Jim Christ, Ogden Highway Superintendent Doug Case and Ogden Town Supervisor Mike Zale for their collaboration to make this rally possible,” concluded Jensen.

“Our local roads and highways are lifelines that connect New Yorkers to schools, jobs, health care and the resources that drive our economy and quality of life. As Assembly Labor Committee Chair, I strongly support this $250 million increase in CHIPS funding. Our local highway departments are facing unprecedented fiscal challenges, and this additional investment will help them maintain safe, accessible infrastructure while creating good-paying jobs for local families. When we invest in our roads, we invest in our workforce and strengthen our entire state economy,” said Assemblyman Harry B. Bronson (AD-138).

“For communities across upstate New York, safe and reliable roadways are not optional—they are the backbone of daily life, commerce and emergency response. As inflation continues to drive up the cost of materials and construction, CHIPS funding has become even more critical for our municipalities. It should not be a yearly battle for upstate communities to secure the resources needed to maintain the infrastructure our residents depend on, especially when we see continuous streams of investment directed downstate. Ensuring equitable, stable funding for our local roads is essential to keeping our rural communities strong and connected,” said Assemblywoman Andrea K. Bailey (R,C-Geneseo).

“Every year, our roads and highways take an immense amount of damage from everyday traffic, as well as the changing seasons. Together, we must advocate to make sure our communities are receiving their fair share of funding to maintain our local roads. As we all know, supporting our local roads isn’t just about preserving the pavement by filling potholes and cracks; it is helping make sure everyone has a safe ride to school, work and home,” said Assemblyman Brian Manktelow (R,C-Lyons).