New York State Executive Chamber | Governor Eliot Spitzer

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STATEMENT BY GOVERNOR SPITZER FOLLOWING A PRELIMINARY BRIDGE INSPECTION BRIEFING WITH STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL OFFICIALS

Earlier today, I convened a meeting with my Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Infrastructure, Tim Gilchrist; Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Executive Director and CEO, Lee Sander; Port Authority Executive Director, Anthony Shorris; Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael Fleischer; Bridge Authority Executive Director George Sinnott; and Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner, Astrid Glynn, along with the state’s top engineering experts and federal and city officials to review the status of all of the state’s major bridges and inspection procedures, and to discuss infrastructure funding issues.

The meeting followed my announcement last week, when I instructed the state Department of Transportation, Thruway Authority, Bridge Authority and the MTA to undertake a thorough examination of New York State’s 49 bridges with similar designs to the I-35 deck truss bridge that tragically collapsed in Minnesota, and also to review the state's inspection standards and procedures. At my direction, state agencies are also in the process of inspecting any bridge that has not been inspected in the last few months.

Even before the Minnesota disaster, which caused us to take additional precautionary steps, the state had set and adhered to the highest standards for bridge security – standards that surpass stringent federal requirements. State standards mandate meticulous inspections, maintenance and improvements.

Yet despite the great confidence we have in our bridges, starting last Thursday morning, at my direction, each agency undertook a detailed review of these bridges and reported their progress to me today. In addition, these agencies gave a preliminary briefing on the condition of all bridges in the state, including those owned by local governments or other entities.

The briefing I received today makes it critically clear that while the latest round of inspections show our bridges are safe, we must continue to be vigilant in future inspections and oversight.

Most importantly, we must continue to make necessary investments in our transportation infrastructure. We cannot repeat past failures like New York’s disinvestment in the 1970's or its failure to respond after the defeat of the 2000 Transportation Bond Act, which impacted long-term investments in our infrastructure.

This year’s enacted budget showed our strong commitment to funding critical infrastructure projects. By maximizing federal resources, we were able to increase the current 5-year transportation plan by more than $900 million, bringing the total up to $18.8 billion – funding that will provide additional investments for state and local transportation infrastructure projects, including highways and bridges, preventive maintenance, and other critical needs.

By March 31, 2008, state DOT will provide the Governor and the Legislature with a new five-year capital plan for highways and bridges, which will reflect the need for additional funding. We will continue to partner with the federal government to fund improvements necessary to the safety, security, reliability, and efficiency of the critical infrastructure across our state.