Ceretto teams up with local highway superintendent to increase state highway funds

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-C-Lewiston, met earlier this week with James Tomkins, Grand Island highway superintendent, in the Assembly chamber. They discussed the importance of increasing state support for the region's roads and bridges.

Tomkins joined highway superintendents from throughout the state for their "2013 Grassroots Advocacy Campaign for Local Roads & Bridges" to urge lawmakers to increase the amount of funding the state provides for the consolidated highway improvement program, or CHIPS.

"The CHIPS program provides the bulk of state aid to counties and towns for the maintenance and improvement of local roads and bridges. Unfortunately, this funding has remained stagnant since 2008," Ceretto said. "As motorists throughout the state know, the lack of funding for CHIPS has led to the deterioration of many of our roads and bridges. To improve the safety of these roads, lawmakers must provide our highway departments with the support they need to maintain and replace our aging infrastructure."