(Binghamton, NY) – The New York State budget proposal by Governor Cuomo aims to consolidate the state Department of Transportation’s (DOT) regional offices. Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Endwell), a member of the Transportation Committee in the Assembly, is raising concerns about the potential loss of our regional office.

“I understand the governor wants government to be more efficient, but we need make sure the Southern Tier isn’t negatively affected,” said Lupardo, who is calling on DOT to keep the offices in Binghamton. “The DOT regional office is critical to our ongoing flood recovery. They are also managing vital infrastructure projects, such as the I-86 conversion. I want to make sure that DOT consolidation plans do not delay repairs to roads, bridges and other critical work. I'm also concerned about our workforce. We can’t afford to lose jobs at this point in our local economic recovery."

Region 9 of the DOT is headquartered at the Binghamton State Office Building on Hawley Street. However, the headquarters could be relocated elsewhere if the state moves from its 11 current regions to 6 regions, as the governor has proposed. Currently, DOT Region 9 encompasses 7 counties: Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan and Tioga.

While Governor Cuomo has said he wants to downsize the number of DOT regions in the state, he has not unveiled the counties that would comprise the different regions and where the regional headquarters would be. At a joint legislative budget hearing today, DOT Commissioner Joan McDonald testified that the administration had not yet decided where the regions would be headquartered under the proposed consolidation.