“We’re only two days into this tour, and I’ve already learned so much about what our hardworking highway department crews do and the resources they need from Albany,” said Jones. “It’s been eye-opening, and there’s certainly no one more qualified to tell us what we need to do to improve our roads, bridges and commutes than the men and women carrying out these projects.”

Today, Jones continued ride-alongs and roundtable discussions in Franklin County with officials from the towns of Bellmont, Burke and Chateaugay. He toured many of the local roads that need repairs and met with highway crews to hear their concerns firsthand.

Yesterday’s tour included stops in Beekmantown, Plattsburgh and Schuyler Falls. Tomorrow, July 3, he will be in northern Clinton County with town officials from Champlain, Chazy and Mooers. Additional tours will be scheduled in late July and August. Jones noted that these tours have been invaluable to him, as he learns more about local needs and challenges faced by municipal highway departments.

Jones has continually fought to secure state funding to help replace the North Country’s roads and bridges. He helped pass a 2019-20 state budget that provides $438.1 million for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs) and $39.7 million for the Marchiselli Program. These programs help municipalities complete much-needed road and bridge maintenance projects. Additionally, in the final weeks of the 2019 legislative session, Jones helped secure $65 million in Extreme Winter Recovery funding.