Editor's Notebook March 2025

Mon March 03, 2025 - National Edition
Craig Mongeau - Editor in Chief

I've said it before (many times) and I'll say it again, properly funding roads and bridges is among the most essential money that government allocates. Frankly, the condition of a country's roads and bridges is among the components that define whether or not it's a first-, second- or third-world nation. Roads are just like arteries in the human body and we certainly want to ensure we're eating right, addressing potential or existing circulatory problems so that we don't suffer the consequences of blockages.

It can certainly (and rightly) be debated that federal and state government should endeavor to find ways to trim expenses to lower deficits, but vital services cannot be up for debate.

Such has been the case with the governor's 2025-2026 budget proposal in which no additional funding for local roads and bridges is included. This comes, as the New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways pointed out to lawmakers that inflation has raised the cost of asphalt and other materials in recent years. One superintendent (see story on page 52) explained that municipalities, towns, villages and counties own and maintain 87 percent of the total road mileage on New York State (note: there is a significant increase in funding for roads maintained by NYSDOT.)

CHIPS funding is like a cholesterol reducing medication: take it and you lower your risk of dangerous blockages; don't take it and risk catastrophic consequences. Potentially deteriorating local roads from lack of adequate funding presents the same risky gamble.

Superintendent's Profile and I strongly support your efforts to inform the governor and lawmakers that local road funding is just as important, if not more important, than larger scale project funding. If I could, I would remind her of what the former house speaker, Tip O'Neill, representative from Massachusetts, would often say: "All politics is local."

It's how you win elections, keep your job and in this case, keep New York State great. P

This story also appears on Superintendent's Profile.

Craig Mongeau

Craig Mongeau has been Construction Equipment Guide’s editor in chief for the past 21-plus years. He directly manages CEG’s Northeast and Southeast editions (which includes New England, Georgia and Alabama state supplements); Superintendent’s Profile; Crane Guide; Northeast and Southeast-based anniversary magazines; and special event publications. He also oversees CEG’s Midwest and Western Editions as well as all CEG website content.

A Hofstra University graduate, Craig began his publishing career as a staff writer for local Southeast Pennsylvania newspapers. He then became an associate editor and book editor of Springhouse Corporation, a Pennsylvania-based medical publishing house and then worked as a managing editor of Rockhill Communications, based in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., where he created and managed content for a national Voluntary Hospital Association website.

Originally from Pittsfield, Mass., Craig has lived in North Wales, Pa., for the past 27 years. He has been married to his wife, Hillary, whom he met in college, since 1998 and together, they have two daughters, Jolie and Aubrie.

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