Whether it’s our roads, bridges, or railways- we need to make sure Putnam County’s infrastructure is safe, sound and reliable. It’s part of what enhances our quality of life and it’s one of many key factors that businesses and families may consider when they are looking to relocate.
Our county roads already make-up close to 120 center lane miles of roadway within our county and the county government is responsible for their maintenance in addition to other roads which add up to over 200 miles between the Hudson River and the Connecticut border. Include that with all our local town roads and it’s a lot. On average, county and local roads make up more than 75% of all center lane miles of road across the state. For years, our county’s bridges have also been managed by county government. We need to make sure our county’s transportation infrastructure is maintained and restored as part of a larger business plan for the county.
Likewise, our leaders in county government must continue to speak and work with its state and federal delegation to ensure our access to the Metro-North railroad from the Harlem and Hudson lines is maintained and remains safe for the hundreds of commuters and visitors who rely on them.
In the Assembly, I serve on the Assembly Transportation Committee and as co-chair of the Assembly Minority Conference’s Transportation & Critical Infrastructure Task Force. I traveled and assessed the state’s infrastructure needs – roads, bridges, water, sewer, and more – in county and local governments. Many of the challenges we face are the same as our fellow New Yorkers in other portions of the state.
As County Executive I’ll build on the experience, knowledge, and relationships I have and work to:
- Identify infrastructure needs and support
- Ensure we have resilient public infrastructure
- Personally advocate at state Legislative Transportation Hearings to ensure Putnam County is not forgotten from DOT’s Region 8
- Build stronger partnerships with federal, state, & local officials as well as public utilities to make sure they have the confidence and support they need to do their part.