Governor Hochul Officially Kicks Off Construction Season in New York State and Announces National Work Zone Awareness Week to Take Place from April 17 through 21

Work Zone Speed Monitoring Pilot Program Launches April 17, Building on Ongoing Efforts to Enforce Safe Driving in Work Zones and Protect the Lives of Highway Workers Across New York

NYSDOT and Thruway Authority Launch Public Awareness Campaign to Educate New Yorkers on the New Pilot Program in Work Zones

State Landmarks to Be Lit in Orange on April 19 with New Yorkers Encouraged to Wear Orange in Solidarity with New York's Highway Workforce

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the state will officially commemorate National Work Zone Awareness Week from April 17 through April 21 as construction season kicks off. The theme for 2023 is, "You play a role in work zone safety. Work with us!" As part of this commemoration aimed at protecting highway workers, an Automated Work Zone Speed Monitoring Pilot Program to help enforce speed limits in highway construction and maintenance work zones will officially launch on April 17, a joint initiative between the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Thruway Authority that builds upon ongoing efforts to better protect highway workers. A total of 30 speed violation monitoring systems that rely on RADAR technology will be positioned in active work zones along New York State highways - 20 on NYSDOT maintained roads and 10 on the New York State Thruway.

"As we officially kick off construction season in New York as well as National Work Zone Awareness Week, I thank highway workers across the state who put their lives on the line to maintain and enhance the roads that we all rely on every day," Governor Hochul said. "This new pilot program will be instrumental in encouraging safe driving habits in highway work zones and protecting the lives of those who help maintain a safe and reliable highway system."

New York State has experienced a rising number of work zone speed violations in recent years, resulting in numerous highway worker injuries and several deaths among state and contractor personnel. By launching the program during National Work Zone Awareness Week, an annual campaign recognized by the Federal Highway Administration since 2000, the state is further highlighting the importance of safe driving when encountering construction, maintenance and emergency operations along highways.

Automated Work Zone Speed Monitoring Pilot Program and Campaign

The Automated Work Zone Speed Monitoring pilot program was established by legislation signed into law by Governor Hochul. For the first 30 days of the pilot, speeding motorists will be issued warning Notices of Liability, with actual Notices being issued 30 days after the initial rollout. A technology operator for the program was selected following a competitive bidding process. Under the program, all vehicles detected violating the posted speed limit within a work zone by over an established threshold will be fined. License plate images and speed data collected will be sent to NYSDOT and the Thruway within a week, with violation fines issued to the vehicle's registered owner by mail. Vehicle owners who are New York State residents will receive notice in the mail within 14 business days of the violation instance, while those who live out of state will receive notice within 45 days. Images of the driver or contents of the vehicle will not be documented.

Fines through the pilot program will be issued as follows:

1. $50 for first violation
2. $75 for second violation
3. $100 for third and subsequent violations within 18 months of the first violation

Unpaid fines may result in a vehicle registration hold where drivers will not be able to renew their registrations without first paying their fines. Owners may contest a violation within 30 days of when they received notice. As required by law, 60 percent of the funds collected by NYSDOT and the Thruway Authority through the program will supplement work zone safety projects.

The State Department of Transportation and the Thruway Authority are also launching a comprehensive public awareness campaign to include various advertising and social media opportunities that target drivers across the State. The campaign will utilize billboard advertisements, broadcast and streaming radio, Waze and more to highlight to the new program and improve motorist compliance with traffic safety laws in highway work zones. More information about the pilot program can be found here.

Operation Hardhat

A State Police crackdown on work zone violations will also be taking place during National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 17 through April 21, 2023 as part of the ongoing "Operation Hardhat" initiative, which highlights the importance of safe driving practices in active construction and maintenance work zones across the state. State Troopers will be dressed as highway maintenance workers in active highway work zones on highways across New York where State Department of Transportation and Thruway Authority employees will be performing maintenance and construction activities. DOT, State Police and the Thruway Authority plan to partner on additional unannounced enforcement efforts in construction zones throughout the State during the remainder of the construction season which typically concludes in October.

Troopers will be present within the work zones to identify motorists who disobey flagging personnel, speed through the work zone, or violate the state's Move Over Law, which applies to both emergency and maintenance vehicles. In 2022, a total of 3,062 tickets were issued during Operation Hardhat details, surpassing the total of 2,336 tickets issued in 2021.

Lighting of Landmarks

The landmarks to be lit in recognition of Go Orange Day include:

• Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
• Kosciuszko Bridge
• The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
• State Education Building
• Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
• Niagara Falls
• Empire State Plaza
• One World Trade Center
• State Fairgrounds - Main Gate & Expo Center
• Albany International Airport Gateway
• MTA LIRR - East End Gateway at Penn Station
• Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
• Moynihan Train Hall

Recognizing and understanding signs leading up to and within a work zone is essential for the safety of all drivers and roadside workers. Maintenance crews across the state work alongside fast-moving traffic each day, knowing their lives depend on drivers being alert, patient and cautious. It is critically important that motorists eliminate distractions, pay attention to driving and move over for workers. As construction season continues, maintenance and work crews will continue to be out on the road performing repairs and improvements to ensure roads are safe for motorists. All travelers should be prepared to reduce speeds and to be alert when passing through work zones.

For more information about National Work Zone Awareness Week, click here.