Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C–Black River) today joined dozens of legislators in urging Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders to increase state investment in local roads and bridges by adding $250 million to the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) in the 2026-27 state budget.

“Local governments maintain nearly 87% of New York’s roads and more than half of its bridges, yet they continue to receive a shrinking share of state and federal transportation funding,” Blankenbush said. “In rural districts like ours, safe and reliable roads are not optional; they are essential to public safety, school transportation, agriculture, small businesses and emergency services.”

The lawmakers are requesting:

• A $250 million increase in CHIPS base aid, bringing total base funding to $898.1 million.
• Combining existing local road programs into more streamlined funding categories to reduce administrative burdens.
• Increasing the CHIPS bidding threshold from $350,000 to $1 million to give municipalities greater flexibility and reduce costs to taxpayers.

Blankenbush emphasized that investment in local transportation infrastructure is an investment in economic growth and job creation. Every $150 million increase in local road and bridge funding is estimated to generate up to 4,200 highway construction-related jobs statewide.

“In the North Country and Mohawk Valley, our roads connect farms to markets, families to schools and businesses to customers,” Blankenbush said. “If we are serious about affordability, economic competitiveness and public safety, then strengthening CHIPS funding must be a priority in this year’s final budget.”