Group to address infrastructure projects

transport

The new state transportation commissioner, the new chairman of the Senate transportation committee and the executive director of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will sit down together Friday for the first time, at the Melville Marriott, to talk about future infrastructure projects and how they will be funded.

Marc Herbst, executive director of the Long Island Contractors' Association, sponsor of the event, noted that the state last year provided funding for only two years of its five-year transportation plan, with about $1.6 billion. "After this year there's zero funding," Herbst said. State transportation commissioner Joan McDonald, who was confirmed last week, Senate transportation committee chairman Charles Fischillo Jr. (R-Merrick), who was confirmed in January, and MTA executive director Jay Walder will be on hand for the 8 a.m. session.

"I think we're going to get a projection of their plans," Herbst said.