The winds of change have arrived in Albany and for those of us who advocate, educate and lobby for adequate funding for our state’s aging infrastructure the breeze is refreshing.  Although rhetoric doesn’t build, maintain or repair the roads and bridges the dialogue and interest demonstrated in 2006 is encouraging.

During his recent campaign, Governor Spitzer gave two major speeches addressing the malaise that has permeated Albany regarding transportation planning and funding and he has vowed to change the culture and priority of transportation during his administration.  Governor Spitzer states, “it has been decades since our state has focused strategically on transportation, as a result, our roads, railroads, bridges and public transit systems are badly outdated.”  That is what the industry has been saying for years, maybe we have a Governor who agrees. 

The theme of his campaign was: “On Day One everything changes.”  We hope so although it may take a little more time since this is Albany.  We all have our list of what needs to be done but the consistent top issue for highway and bridge advocates is addressing the transportation funding crisis and fixing the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund.

Established in 1991 to finance major capital projects and provide a steady and dependable stream of revenue, mainly through user fees, the Dedicated Fund was less than two years old when it was tapped to plug general budget shortfalls.  The raiding of the DF has continued to this day and because of excessive borrowing, debt service is  now consuming the Dedicated Fund’s revenue at a growing rate.  If this issue is not addressed soon the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund will run dry in 2011.

So if you run into Governor Spitzer, first congratulate him on his victory and commitment to transportation but also ask him on “Day One” to secure transportation funding by elimination operating expenses from the Dedicated Fund, explore creative financing mechanisms to adequately fund our infrastructure needs and make strategic investments for the future of New York State.

Steve Morgan is Executive Director of the New York State Transportation Engineering Alliance (NYSTEA), Secretary of the New York Roadway Improvement Coalition (NYRIC) and former Executive Director of the New York State Thruway Authority.

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