STATEMENT OF OF RICHARD T. ANDERSON PRESIDENT, NEW YORK BUILDING CONGRESS SUBMITTED TO A JOINT LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON THE FIS

The New York Building Congress appreciates the opportunity to comment on the State's Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Transportation budget. The Building Congress is a broad-based membership organization focusing on economic and infrastructure investment, job creation and professional exchange among the contractors, architects, engineers, unions, real estate managers, developers, owners and service providers who comprise the building community.

The State of New York faces across-the-board challenges as a result of historic budget deficits. Protecting the State's infrastructure is an essential part of our recovery. Our roads, bridges, trains and subways are the arteries through which our economic livelihood flows. Fortunately, the Governor's budget proposal maintains the State's commitment to the Department of Transportation and the MTA capital programs at levels forecast last year. This will maintain minimum support for transportation infrastructure this year as the State grapples with other budget issues.

However, beyond the next several months, the stability of the State's transportation infrastructure is seriously in question. The Legislature is familiar with the uncertain future of federal transportation funding, and the enormous out-year gaps in DOT's and the MTA's capital plans. Albany therefore must address its major transportation capital plans with the same