Associated General Contractors of New York State CEO: Wants to Increase Capital Plan Funding

By Rockland Daily Staff

Mike Elmendorf, president and CEO of the Associated General Contractors of New York State, is asking the legislature to take advantage of federal funding and not to let the opportunity to fund improved roads and bridges get away like last year.

Even though last year, Governor Hochul passed a $32.8 billion transportation capital program to improve state roads and bridges over five years, the State only increased its 2022 capital plan by $2 billion. This created a missed opportunity, so New York was unable to take advantage of available funding, including Biden's federal infrastructure bill, which increased the State's funding by $4.6 billion for transportation. 

"You would expect, especially in a state like New York which has among the worst roads and bridge conditions in the country, that you'd see at least $4.6 billion more being spent (by the state) over the same period of time," Elmendorf said according to NYStateofPolitics.com. 

But that's not what happened. Instead, New York only increased its capital plan by under $2.3 billion despite last year's efforts to allow for more funding as time ran out on the legislative session due to the intense bail reform focus taking up the majority of the legislative session's time. 

Elmenford doesn't want that to happen again this year, which is why he is ready to push his agenda again this year while hoping for better success regarding New York State roads and bridges.