Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.5990-A/S.4048-A, an act to amend the highway law, in relation to the rate paid by the state to a city for maintenance and repair of highways.

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Res. No. 922 ..Title Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.5990-A/S.4048-A, an act to amend the highway law, in relation to the rate paid by the state to a city for maintenance and repair of highways. ..Body Council Member Powers Whereas, Pursuant to New York State law, the State delegates the responsibility of maintaining state arterial highways to the municipalities where the highways are located and then reimburses the local government for the costs of maintenance and repairs; and Whereas, Since 1987, New York State has reimbursed municipalities at a rate of 85 cents per square yard of pavement for the maintenance of highways, a rate that has not been increased or adjusted for inflation over that same time period; and Whereas, Currently, 38 out of 62 cities have an agreement with the State to maintain the state arterial highways located within their boundaries; and Whereas, The maintenance responsibilities often performed by these municipalities includes guide rail repairs, pothole maintenance, fence repairs, road markings, and the upkeep of impact crash cushions; and Whereas, The State's current reimbursement rate only covers approximately 55 percent of the actual costs that municipalities incur for the cost of highway maintenance and repairs; and Whereas, This funding shortage has left these 38 municipalities with the burden of absorbing the costs of maintaining the State highways; and Whereas, The City receives approximately $13 million in state reimbursement for maintenance work on highways pursuant to the state law and a separate supplemental agreement with State authorities; and Whereas, The City's actual costs for the work incurred totals approximately $24 million - around $11 million more than the state provides; and Whereas, The New York State Conference of Mayors recently released a statement expressing that cities and their residents should not be punished for participating in a cooperative highway maintenance program with the state; and Whereas, The New York State Conference of Mayors has urged the State to uphold its end of the deal by providing a reimbursement rate based on the current costs of maintaining and repairing the roads; and Whereas, The New York State Legislature has introduced A.5990-A, sponsored by Assembly Member Nily Rozic, and S.4048-A, sponsored by Senator Timothy M. Kennedy, in relation to the rate paid by the State to a city for maintenance and repair of highways; and Whereas, A.5990-A/S.4048-A would raise the reimbursement rate for municipalities to $1.87 per square yard of the pavement or road area that is included in the state highway system; and Whereas, A.5990-A/S.4048-A would also raise the payment rate for work pavement areas that are located on elevated bridges from 10 cents to 20 cents per square yard of such pavement area; and Whereas, If A.5990-/S.4048-A were to be enacted, New York City's reimbursement for these maintenance and repair efforts would increase by several million dollars; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.5990-A/S.4048-A, an act to amend the highway law, in relation to the rate paid by the state to a city for maintenance and repair of highways. LS 10,773 RA 5/21/2019 2

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