Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Albany Reform

State Budget Includes $625 Million Road Bailout for 2013

For years, Albany has raided the state's highway trust fund, using general tax revenue to patch holes. This year, the governor's budget, as filed in the Senate and Assembly, includes a mammoth $625 million road bailout, larger than the $519 million projected in the financial plan and higher than most trust fund bailouts in previous years.

The Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund, created in 1991 using fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees, is meant to pay for road construction and repair. By 1993, it was already being used to pay off Thruway Authority debt. Soon enough, it was raided to pay for road plowing and DMV salaries. Through 2008, only one third of the fund's revenue was used to cover capital costs, according to Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

A bill to keep highway trust fund revenue from being diverted has stalled in the Assembly. Even that bill, however, wouldn't solve the underlying problem: New York is spending more on roads than it collects in fuel taxes, tolls, and fees. (All told, federal and state gas taxes and automobile fees pay for only 54 percent of New York's state and local bridge and road spending, according to the non-profit Tax Foundation.)

"Raids from dedicated revenue streams and general fund transfers are not funding solutions," said Veronica Vanterpool of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. "They are last resort measures when new revenue sources are not being considered."

In the meantime, the trust fund raids continue, pushing more of the burden for supporting highways from drivers to all taxpayers, including the 54 percent of New York City households that don't even own a car.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

EXCLUSIVE: City Will Let Mopeds Use Queensboro and Brooklyn Bridge Roadways

DOT hopes to prevent conflicts between moped and bike riders by allowing the former on the main roadways on the Brooklyn Bridge and Queensboro Bridge.

March 13, 2025

Chinatown Pols Renew Push for Cars on Park Row, But Residents Say No

Politicians say getting cars back on Park Row is their top priority — but locals don't want that.

March 13, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Sunset on the Capitol Edition

Sometimes on a slow news day in the city, it's worth heading downtown D.C. — where everything is on fire.

March 13, 2025

Cabbies Call Parking Fines Too Harsh, Demand More Dedicated Curb Space

The TLC hopes to target repeat offenders and make streets safer by increasing penalties for for-hire vehicle parking violations.

March 13, 2025

U.S. DOT Orders Review of All Grants Related to Green Infrastructure, Bikes

Now U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is coming for our bike lanes!

March 12, 2025
See all posts