Editor's Notebook July 2026

Craig Mongeau - June 2026

The Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) remains one of New York State's most important infrastructure funding programs for local governments.

For State Fiscal Year 2026–2027, New York enacted a significant increase in CHIPS funding. The program received $698.1 million, representing a $50 million increase over the $648.1 million provided in 2025–2026. According to highway funding advocates and state budget documents, this marks the second consecutive year in which CHIPS funding was increased by $50 million.

The CHIPS increase is part of a broader package of local transportation assistance. When combined with other state programs — including Extreme Winter Recovery (EWR), PAVE-NY, State Touring Routes (STR), Pave Our Potholes (POP) and BRIDGE-NY — total state assistance for local highways and bridges is expected to reach approximately $1.43 billion in 2026–2027, a record level for local transportation funding in New York.

State and local officials have argued that additional investment is necessary because municipalities continue to face rising construction costs, inflation, labor expenses and higher prices for materials such as asphalt and fuel. Many local governments have reported that road maintenance budgets have been strained in recent years, making state assistance increasingly important for preserving transportation infrastructure and public safety.

The 2026–2027 funding increase also coincides with the final year of New York's five-year Department of Transportation capital plan, which has directed billions of dollars toward transportation improvements statewide. State leaders have emphasized that maintaining local roads and bridges is essential for economic development, emergency services, school transportation and daily travel for residents and businesses.

Moving on to other important high-related matters, the N.Y.S. Highway & Public Works Expo is scheduled for Oct. 28, 2026, in Syracuse, and now is a great time to start reserving your exhibitor space. Please contact Amanda Hogeboom-Guilfoyle at [email protected] to get the process started. We're again expecting a big crowd, and the Expo is a great place to showcase all your new products and services.