Slater, Harckham tout ‘historic increase’ in CHIPS funding for roads

Assemblyman Matt Slater and state Sen. Pete Harckham announced a historic increase Friday in Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding as part of the enacted 2026-27 state budget, providing additional resources to municipalities across the Hudson Valley and New York to repair roads, improve infrastructure and address transportation needs.

The budget includes a $50 million increase in CHIPS funding, bringing the statewide program total to a record $698.1 million. Combined with other local transportation aid programs, municipalities will receive an unprecedented $1.4 billion in state highway funding this year, providing local governments with the resources needed to maintain safe and reliable roads and bridges while keeping pace with rising construction costs. The increase represents a 32.3 percent growth in annual local highway aid compared to the final year of the state’s previous multi-year highway capital program.

“Our local highway departments are on the front lines of maintaining the roads and bridges that residents rely on every day,” said Slater in a press release. “After hearing directly from highway superintendents across Putnam and Westchester counties about the challenges posed by rising construction costs, I made increasing CHIPS funding a top priority this year. This historic $50 million increase will provide municipalities with critical resources to address infrastructure needs, improve public safety and help ease the burden on local taxpayers.

He thanked Harckham for his partnership.

“For the second year in a row, we successfully fought for a sizable $50 million boost to a statewide $698.1 million in Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program funding in the FY2026-27 state budget, which underscores the state’s ongoing commitment to keeping our critical infrastructure updated and in good repair,” Harckham said. “CHIPS funding helps our local municipal governments make timely transportation infrastructure investments while alleviating the burden of these costs from local property taxpayers, a real win-win.”

Town of Yorktown Highway Superintendent Dave Paganelli called the increase “welcome news.”

He said that as costs continue to rise for materials and equipment, along with the number of infrastructure projects, “additional state support helps local highway departments maintain roads, address critical repairs and complete projects that might otherwise be delayed.”