Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing to make New York’s work zone speed enforcement camera program permanent and expand its scope, as part of a broader effort to improve highway safety and protect transportation workers across the state.
The proposal, included in the governor’s FY 2026 budget, would extend the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) program beyond its current pilot status and apply it to properties maintained by the MTA Bridges and Tunnels and the New York State Bridge Authority. It would also enhance penalties for assaults against highway and transportation workers — a measure advocates say is critical amid rising incidents of harassment.
Camera program already showing results
The AWZSE program, launched in 2023 under a 5-year pilot, uses automated cameras to enforce speed limits in active work zones. Since its inception, more than 420,000 notices of liability have been issued, with over 78,000 repeat offenders identified. Officials say the program is already changing driver behavior: locations where cameras have appeared more than once are seeing a reduction in violations.
“By permanently driving down speeds in work zones and enhancing penalties for assaults against [workers], I am working to strengthen our laws to ensure these dedicated workers can make it home safe themselves,” Hochul said.
Wider protections for transportation workers
The budget also proposes stronger legal protections for highway crews and transportation employees, aligning penalties for assaults against them with those already in place for transit and retail workers. The move follows high-profile incidents, including a 2024 confrontation on Long Island where a driver exited his vehicle and verbally accosted a Department of Transportation crew setting up a work zone.
“This commonsense legislative package … will provide much needed worker safety protection and peace of mind,” said Marie Therese Dominguez, commissioner of the State Department of Transportation. “Our highway workers deserve the respect of the traveling public every second they are out there doing their jobs in the name of safety.”
Broad support from labor, industry, and local governments
The proposal has drawn strong backing from labor unions, construction industry groups, and local government leaders across New York. Officials say the measures are necessary to deter reckless driving and violent behavior that endanger the lives of workers maintaining the state’s roads and infrastructure.
“Our highway employees work day in and day out to maintain our roads and keep New Yorkers safe,” said State Senator Jeremy Cooney, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. “It’s only right that we prioritize their safety while on the job.”
Supporters also pointed to the program’s success in influencing driver behavior as a reason for expansion. Catherine Sheridan, president of MTA Bridges and Tunnels, said drivers are “slowing down, resulting in fewer work zone accidents and injuries.”
With construction season approaching and National Work Zone Awareness Week beginning April 21, safety advocates say the timing is critical. If approved as part of the state budget, the legislation would mark a permanent shift in New York’s approach to work zone safety.
