Highway Chiefs Call on Paterson To Avert Road Funding Crisis

ALBANY, NY (12/04/2008)(readMedia)-- Today Governor David Paterson was called on to deal with both the massive budget deficit facing not only the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) but also the New York State Department of Transportation by the New York State County Highway Superintendents Association(NYSCHSA) and the New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways (NYSAOTSOH).

In a letter to the Governor the Associations stated, "The MTA's proposed $29.6 billion five year capital program has a 60 percent funding gap of $17.9 billion. NYSDOT's proposed $25.7 billion five capital program has a 61 percent funding gap of $15.7 billion."

On December 5^th Chairman Richard Ravitch and his Commission on MTA Financing are to release their final report to Governor Paterson and State Legislative Leaders. The Commission is expected to recommend billions of dollars in new and increased revenue raisers for the cash strapped transit agency. A portions of these recommendations are expected to be included in the Governor's 2009-2010 Executive Budget that he will be releasing on December 16,2008.

NYSAOTSOH President Dick Walters said, "Our state's local governments are spending over $2 billion annually on highway and bridge capital improvements yet studies have shown our system's conditions will continue to decline unless this investment is doubled annually. All New Yorkers deserve safe and reliable transportation systems whether they commute by transit or motor vehicle."

James Brady, NYSCHSA President, added, "There have been many suggestions advanced recently that seek to address the need for revenue enhancements to support the state and local highway and bridge systems. We believe these initiatives deserve consideration along with those proposed by Chairman Ravitch's plan for the MTA, as the 2009-2010 budget for NYSDOT is developed."

Some of the initiatives that are being advanced by policymakers, budget planners and transportation interests are a result of the funding challenges being discussed at public forums, like the one held by NYSDOT recently entitled "Beyond the Gas Tax." Such suggestions include but are not limited to the following:

• Eliminate the sales tax cap on gasoline depositing revenues above $2 per gallon in the Dedicated Highway Bridge and Trust Fund (DHBTF) ($225 billion annually @$3 per gallon);
• Increase automobile registration fees to DHBTF($1 billion annually);
• Collect gas tax on Indian Reservations for DHBTF($400 million annually); and
• Eliminate growth cap on PBT($200 million annually).

NYSCHSA and NYSAOTSOH represent nearly 1,000 elected and appointed officials responsible for maintaining 87 percent of the roads and 52 percent of the bridges in New York State.

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