NYSDOT commissioner says $800 million in executive budget restores capital plan buying power

Ms. Dominguez, commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation, told lawmakers the governor's executive budget includes an $800 million addition intended to restore the department's purchasing power and allow previously planned projects to move forward.

The boost "goes, it is that amount of money that we need to actually move forward, our purchasing power," Ms. Dominguez said. She told the Assembly and Senate joint fiscal committees that DOT continues to track materials cost indices and aims to preserve the scope of its five-year program even where individual projects shift in timing.

Why it matters: The state's five-year capital plan for DOT totals about $34.1 billion and funds hundreds of roads, bridges and local assistance programs across New York. Lawmakers and DOT officials said that without the added appropriation some planned projects could be delayed or require substitution of other projects to meet commitments made in the capital plan.

What DOT described: Ms. Dominguez listed major initiatives the capital plan funds or advances, including work on the Interstate 81 replacement in Syracuse, environmental reviews for reimagining the Cross Bronx and Interstate 787 in Albany, a Hudson River crossing replacement of the Livingston Avenue Bridge, local paving via CHIPS and the statewide resilience work. She highlighted investments in transit: $100 million to maintain CHIPS and state touring routes and a proposed $20 million program for electric bus procurements for non-MTA systems in the executive budget.

Lawmakers pressed on details and timing. In nearly hour-long questioning, members asked whether the $800 million would be sufficient to maintain the capital plan through the remaining years and whether materials inflation had already delayed work. Ms. Dominguez said DOT has been tracking material indices and attempting to manage project scope and sequencing to meet commitments; she said the $800 million was a "huge step in the right direction" but could not guarantee it would completely eliminate future pressures.

Context and local assistance: Ms. Dominguez told committees the state's proposal also includes an increase in local assistance funding for towns and counties and that the capital plan contains dedicated funds for community and reconnecting projects such as work on the Cross Bronx Corridor and studies for the West Side Highway. She added DOT will continue to work with local officials to help with deliverability, including overtime, payment and compliance flexibilities.

What legislators will watch: Members pushed for continued transparency and for quarterly updates on material costs and project schedules. Several lawmakers also pressed for more funding to CHIPS and local pavement programs, saying the $100 million in additional CHIPS-related funding in the executive budget would be insufficient to offset local inflationary pressure.

Ending: Ms. Dominguez told lawmakers DOT will continue to prioritize worker safety, resiliency and materials innovation as it implements the capital plan and stands ready to work with the Legislature to ensure projects are delivered across the state.