Hochul highlights Route 17 project in state budget proposal

Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled a record-setting $216.3 billion budget on Tuesday that includes several significant one-time infusions including $1 billion over three years in capital investments for transit-related projects.

Hochul proposed a new five-year, $32.8 billion DOT capital plan that will leverage Federal funding commitments made in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to support final phases of major infrastructure projects and support new large-scale projects, including converting Route 17 to I-86 in Orange and Sullivan counties.

The Five-Year DOT Capital Plan also increases the existing BRIDGE-NY program by $1 billion, adds a new $1 billion Operation Pave Our Potholes program, and continues record commitments to funding local highway and bridge programs through the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS).

In a brief budget presentation, Hochul characterized the spending plan as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to make purpose-driven investments in our state and in our people that will pay dividends for decades.”

Top legislative leaders are expected to keep negotiating with Hochul to finalize the budget, which must be in place by April 1.

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