Governor Hochul Unveils Plan to Strengthen Our Communities by Investing in Critical Infrastructure

Governor Kathy Hochul today unveiled proposals to strengthen New York's communities by investing in infrastructure as part of her 2026 State of the State. The Governor's plan includes building more housing to address shortages, delivering clean and safe water, improving local infrastructure, and reducing commute times

"From the Erie Canal to the Brooklyn Bridge, New York was once a leader in building innovative infrastructure, but regulation and inaction has stalled our progress, driving up costs and causing delays for every day New Yorkers. Those days are over," Governor Hochul said. "My State of the State lays out how we'll get government working again to advance the housing, transportation and other projects New Yorkers desperately need. Together, we will unlock opportunities to usher in a new era of innovation to ensure that our future is one where all New Yorkers can thrive."

Building More Housing

Governor Hochul will build upon the housing progress she has spearheaded, by continuing to make historic investments and enact commonsense policies to tackle the housing shortage and bring down housing costs including:

• $250 million to accelerate affordable housing development, speeding up the construction of thousands more affordable homes and transformative projects;
• Embracing innovative approaches to build homes more quickly and at lower costs by providing additional funding for the MOVE-IN NY program to support innovation in emerging factory-built and modular construction strategies.
• Expanding the number of land banks permitted through legislation to increase the cap on the number of land banks that can be established from 35 to 45; and
• Creating the manufactured home park improvement revolving loan fund to finance improvements to critical infrastructure and upgrades for residents.

Delivering Clean and Safe Water

New York's water infrastructure is the lifeblood of our public health and the backbone of our economy and our communities. However, our aging systems face a host of challenges due to old infrastructure, emerging contaminants, and necessary upgrades to protect our environment and drinking water sources. Lack of adequate water infrastructure, like sewers, is also preventing necessary housing development and economic growth across the state. Modern sewer systems act as the essential foundation for housing expansion, providing the literal underground capacity needed to build new neighborhoods and revitalize urban centers. To meet this moment, Governor Hochul is proposing:

• A bold five-year, $3.75 billion commitment to water infrastructure, with $750 million in funding per year, which will continue to support and grow signature water programs;
• To launch a new Smart Growth Water Grant Program, which will focus on sewer and water projects that directly enable the construction of new housing units and the creation of permanent jobs;
• Establishing new regulations that instruct landfills to treat leachate for harmful contaminants at the source before discharge, and provide funding for local governments to comply; and
• Moving forward with new funding opportunities to support even more communities in the vital work of identifying and replacing lead service lines.

Upgrading Our Parks

Governor Hochul is committed to expanding green spaces across New York State to provide children and families opportunities to be outside, unplug and play, and spend time with loved ones. As part of that goal, Governor Hochul is proposing:

• Steps towards the construction of High Falls State Park, which will transform 40 acres of brownfield into Rochester's first state park, and restore public access to this part of the Genesee River for the first time in over a century;
• Launching a program to revitalize Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park so that it can better serve the millions of residents who depend on it; and
• Expanding the footprint of Niagara Falls State Park to include the nearby Whirlpool and Devil's Hole State Parks. The realignment will also add nearly two more miles of trails to the park and serve to better connect the attractions along the way including the Aquarium of Niagara and the Underground Railroad Heritage Center.

Strengthening Our Communities

Launching NY Kicks: A World Cup Legacy Investment Fund

The arrival of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in New York presents an opportunity for the state to translate this historic event into enduring community value; and support our youngest New Yorkers in growing a lifelong love of the sport. As part of the FIFA World Cup festivities across New York, Governor Hochul will launch NY Kicks: A World Cup Legacy Investment Fund to build youth soccer infrastructure in disadvantaged communities across each region in the state that will live beyond this summer.

Building Community Centers To Foster Connections and Well-Being

Governor Hochul is committed to building stronger, healthier communities in every corner of New York State. That's why, last year, she launched Building Recreational Infrastructure for Communities, Kids and Seniors - NY BRICKS. NY BRICKS grants support municipalities and nonprofit organizations across New York State in building or renovating community centers that promote physical health, mental well-being, and community connections for youth and older adults. Building on the success of this program, Governor Hochul is proposing to provide a new round of NY BRICKS funding dedicated to building and renovating affordable and accessible community spaces where kids can play, families can connect, and seniors can stay active and engaged.

Preserving Performing Art Spaces Across New York

New York's live arts scene plays a vital role in the state's economy by attracting tourists, creating vibrant communities, and supporting emerging artists. However, many nonprofit arts organizations rely on rented venues, which limits their ability to plan long-term projects and makes them vulnerable to shifts in real estate markets or increases in rental prices. Nearly 50 arts venues have shuttered in NYC alone since 2020, and the 2010s saw dozens more theaters, music halls, and other live performance spaces close permanently.

To help secure the long-term future of smaller performance spaces across the state, Governor Hochul is proposing a new program - Saving Performing Arts and Cultural Experiences (NY SPACE). This initiative will provide funding to help nonprofit performing arts organizations acquire venues like theatres, concert halls, and other live performance spaces.

Improving Infrastructure at County Fairs

New York's county fairs bring communities together, highlight local specialties and agricultural traditions, and offer opportunities for youth education and engagement. To help support county fairs and support venues for kids to "unplug and play", Governor Hochul is proposing to invest in infrastructure improvements at county fairs, and provide support for off-season event capacity. This funding will support projects such as new show arenas, barns and washing facilities for animals in youth competitions; upgrades to bathroom facilities used by youth and their families at the fairgrounds; purchase or installation of hand washing stations outside animal exhibition buildings; and purchase of security equipment like cameras, monitors or barriers.

Improving Commutes and Travel for New Yorkers

Reimagining Jamaica Station for the Millions of Commuters Who Depend On It

Jamaica Station is integral to the commutes of millions of New Yorkers, enabling the workers and students in Queens to get to school and jobs, allowing travelers to get to and from Long Island, ensuring travelers from around the world can efficiently and affordably get to JFK Airport, and connecting New Yorkers to world-class sporting and entertainment events. More than 1,000 trains and 200,000 passengers transit Jamaica Station every weekday, making it the fourth busiest commuter rail station in North America - surpassed only by Grand Central Station, Penn Station, and Toronto's Union Station. Yet Jamaica Station has been left far behind in terms of customer experience and investment; it was last upgraded 23 years ago, when the AirTrain JFK began operation in 2003.

To modernize Jamaica Station into the world-class station experience it deserves to be, Governor Hochul is proposing to design a reimagined Jamaica Station. The reimagined Jamaica Station will help create better traffic flow, reduce crowding, and build out a world class station complex providing seamless connection between the LIRR Main Line, NYC Transit, and AirTrain JFK for the millions of commuters who depend on this station.

Advancing the Second Avenue Subway Crosstown Expansion Project To Improve Commutes for New Yorkers

In her 2024 State of the State address, the Governor proposed a bold and innovative solution to enhance the potential of one of the most promising expansion projects in the MTA's service area - extending the Q line west along 125th Street, with three new stops at Lenox Avenue, St. Nicholas Avenue, and culminating at Broadway. Governor Hochul funded a feasibility study which found that it is not only possible to extend the Second Avenue Subway line construction west to Broadway, serving hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, but that performing the tunneling work as a follow-on to the current East Harlem extension would save time and money.

Governor Hochul is proposing to support the next phase of this project with funding for design and preliminary engineering to advance tunneling across 125th Street. The extension along 125th Street will improve commutes for millions of New Yorkers, save significant time for commuters benefiting from intersections with seven north-south subway lines across Manhattan, and connect underserved communities to jobs.

Building on a Record of Delivering Infrastructure for New Yorkers

When Governor Hochul took office, she vowed to reestablish New York's position as a leader in building world class infrastructure. Governor Hochul has demonstrated that we can build at scale and with urgency so that New Yorkers get the housing, transportation, water, parks, and other infrastructure they desperately need. Since taking office, Governor Hochul has:

• Invested a record $25 billion to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide over five years. Already, 77,000 homes have been completed, putting the Governor ahead of schedule in achieving her goal.
• Committed an additional $1 billion to New York City to support affordable housing to secure "City of Yes for Housing Opportunity," the most impactful pro-housing rezoning in the city's history, expected to produce more than 80,000 new homes.
• Unlocked $1.6 billion in state investment for vital improvements for NYCHA, benefitting 123,000 residents; and signed the first of its kind NYCHA Preservation Trust legislation to comprehensively modernize up to 25,000 of its homes.
• Launched the nation's first congestion pricing program, which has resulted in less traffic, cleaner air, and safer streets, all while generating over $500 million to fund mass transit improvements.
• Advanced major infrastructure projects that have been talked about for generations: the IBX, Second Avenue Subway Phase 2, the New Midtown Bus Terminal, the Hudson Tunnel Project, and the I-81 Viaduct Project.
• Fully funded the MTA's historic 2025-2029 Capital Plan, which commits $68 billion to modernize and expand the New York City region's transit system.
• Completed major airport improvement projects across upstate New York, including in Rochester, Binghamton, Syracuse, Sullivan County, Ogdensburg, and Saratoga County
• Delivered a record $3.8 billion in the last fiscal year for investments in local water infrastructure, helping ensure access to clean drinking water and bolster flood resilience.
• Invested a $100 million to upgrade and build 30 new community centers across the state which are expected to benefit nearly 400,000 New Yorkers
• Advanced projects to build new parks, green spaces, and pools across New York as part of the Governor's "Unplug and Play" initiative, Thanks to the State's investments, projects like the Jones Beach East Complex Bathhouse will be completed this year, providing families and children a new swimming pool and recreational facilities.

Contact the Governor's Press Office