New York Seeks to Enhance Work Zone Protections

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed permanently adopting and expanding the state’s Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) program as part of the FY 2026 budget. Originally launched in 2021 as a five-year pilot, the program aims to reduce speeding in highway work zones using automated speed cameras. The proposed expansion would extend enforcement to bridges and tunnels managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the New York State Bridge Authority. Alongside this, Hochul seeks to increase penalties for assaults on transportation workers. Officials report the program is effective in reducing repeat speeding violations, and the proposed legislative changes are intended to significantly enhance safety for highway and transportation workers across the state.