Each year winter storms plague New York State with devastating snow and ice. The frigid conditions make it difficult to go outdoors and at times the snow makes travel nearly impossible. Despite the awful weather conditions, towns are continually required to maintain all their roads, even ones seldom used by residents, which reduces funding for education, local projects, small businesses and job creation.

I am currently supporting legislation that would allow towns to save money and more efficiently maintain roads. Through this legislation, streets that are rarely used would be deemed as low-volume roads and funding would be prioritized to areas with high traffic. Road maintenance has been a waste of money in towns that are financially unstable, but this new legislation would ease burdens faced by towns to maintain every road, minimizing costs and saving taxpayer money.

Fortunately for many state residents, this legislation has been moved to the Assembly Transportation Committee for further consideration. Though it has been there for quite some time now, it has remained stagnant with little progress made. The Chair of the Committee, Assemblyman David Gantt, has not made any progress with this legislation, but it is now time for action. I request that Gantt move this critical legislation from Committee to the Assembly Floor for a vote.

This legislation would save time and money, providing further benefits to the state. Limited year-round access to seldom traveled and remote roads will help with land fragmentation and conversion, helping to grow wildlife habitats. Forest fragmentation could also be prevented, helping us to establish increased statewide forestry conservation.

I call upon my colleagues on the Transportation Committee to move forward with this important legislation. Each year New Yorkers maintain roads that are barely used, with a massive cost to you, the taxpayer. With this new legislation, we will put an end to this terrible waste in New York and start saving taxpayer money.

I want to know what you think about this or any other legislative matter. Please contact me by emailing blankenbushk@nyassembly.gov or by calling my office at 315-493-3909