LOCAL ROADS MATTER — A statewide grassroots campaign calling for a stronger state commitment to local roads and bridges brought a contingent of more than 600 local highway superintendents and other transportation leaders to Albany last week. The group included several highway superintendents representing area counties.

In the photo, superintendents representing Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben and Yates counties met with State Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R-C-I, Corning) and State Assemblyman Chris Friend (R-Big Flats) at the State Capitol to urge New York’s ongoing investment in the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program, commonly known as CHIPS, and other priority transportation issues.

In a joint statement, Assemblymen Friend and Palmesano said, “We need to ensure that upstate New York’s local roads and bridges receive the commitment they deserve from state government. The quality of our local transportation infrastructure remains critically important to motorist safety, tourism, and as a pipeline to future economic development and job creation.”