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S 10094

Relates to winter road maintenance data collection and monitoring

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pete Harckham and 2 co-sponsors

The bill requires statewide winter maintenance data collection, calibrated equipment, and public reporting to improve transparency, accountability, and environmental monitoring of

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Bill Summary · S 10094

Summary of Bill S. 10094 (2025-2026, New York)

Title: Relates to winter road maintenance data collection and monitoring

Purpose and intent
- Establish statewide data collection, monitoring, and reporting requirements for winter road maintenance and salt/brine application on state-maintained highways.
- Require calibration of highway deicing material application equipment to ensure accurate, accountable material application.
- Create a framework for municipal participation, data integration, environmental coordination, and public reporting.

Key provisions

1) New Article: Winter Road Maintenance Data Collection and Monitoring (Highway Law, Article 3-A)
- Definitions (Section 70)
- Department: New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT)
- Road salt: Sodium chloride or other chloride-based deicers
- Winter maintenance operation: Snow/ice control activities (plowing, salting, sanding, liquid deicers)
- Operator: Individual responsible for operating winter maintenance equipment
- Maintenance vehicle: Vehicle used for snow/ice control

  • Statewide Winter Maintenance Data System (Section 71)

    • NYSDOT must develop/maintain a statewide operational data system for winter activities on state highways.
    • System features:
    • Prefer digital reporting where practicable
    • Integrates with automated vehicle location (AVL) systems, spreader controls, road weather information systems (RWIS)
    • Standardized formats for recording activities
    • Public access on NYSDOT website; updated monthly
    • NYSDOT may promulgate regulations to implement/administer the system

  • Required Operational Data Collection (Section 72)

    • For each winter operation on state-maintained highways, NYSDOT must record:
    • Date, operator, vehicle/equipment, record creation/update, modification indicator, operator remarks
    • For each route/work activity, record: total trip miles, spread miles, work order ID, beat/route ID, task code
    • For each material used, record: dry material code/amount; liquid material code/amount
    • Application performance data: application rate, number of lanes spread, pounds per lane mile
    • Environmental conditions (where available): event code, highway conditions, air temperature, road surface temperature
    • Data should be capturable via automated systems (spreaders, AVL, RWIS) when possible

  • Equipment and Technology Integration (Section 73)

    • Prioritize equipment capable of electronically recording/transmitting data: material application rates, spread distances, vehicle location, time of application
    • Emphasize integration of AVL, spreader controllers, RWIS

  • Municipal Data Partnership Program (Section 74)

    • Establish a voluntary program inviting counties, towns, villages, and cities to participate
    • Participation benefits: technical assistance, access to statewide data platform, guidance on standardized reporting

  • Environmental Data Coordination (Section 75)

    • Coordinate with Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to use winter maintenance data to:
    • Monitor chloride levels in surface water/groundwater
    • Identify areas with high road salt application
    • Inform statewide road salt reduction strategies

  • Reporting Requirements (Section 76)

    • Beginning two years after the act’s effective date, NYSDOT must submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature on:
    • Total road salt usage on state-maintained highways
    • Trends in application rates
    • Operational efficiency metrics
    • Municipal participation in the data system
    • Reports must be publicly available on NYSDOT website

  • Rulemaking (Section 77)

    • NYSDOT may promulgate regulations for standardized data definitions/codes, reporting formats, and data submission requirements

2) Calibration of Highway Deicing Material Application Equipment (Transportation Law, new Section 23)
- Key definitions (Section 23)
- Deicing material: Includes salt, treated salt, brines, calcium chloride, various salt-sand mixes, etc.
- Application equipment: Spreader, sprayer, pre-wetting system, or other device on vehicles
- Calibration: Verification/adjustment to ensure accurate application rates
- Responsible entity: NYSDOT, counties, cities, towns, villages, public authorities, or contractors responsible for winter maintenance

  • Calibration requirements (Section 23)

    • All deicing equipment used on public roads must be calibrated to ensure accurate application rates
    • Calibration documents relationship between speed, settings, and output rate
    • No deployment of equipment unless calibrated

  • Calibration timeline and standards (Section 23)

    • Calibrate at least annually before each winter season
    • Calibrate after repairs/modifications or when new equipment is installed
    • Calibrate at intervals set by commissioner regulations

  • Regulatory standards (Section 23)

    • Commissioner, with DEC, to establish:
    • Standardized calibration procedures
    • Acceptable tolerances for rates
    • Methods for calibrating granular and liquid systems
    • Documentation/verification requirements
    • Standards reflect best practices from the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force

  • Recordkeeping and public accessibility (Section 23)

    • Responsible entities must maintain calibration records for all equipment:
    • Calibration date, equipment ID, material type, method, verified rate ranges, calibrator name
    • Records kept for at least five years and publicly available annually

  • Compliance, audits, and assistance (Section 23)

    • Commissioner may require periodic certifications and conduct audits
    • NYSDOT/DEC to provide guidance, training, and technical assistance to municipalities and agencies

  • Implementation (Section 23)

    • Regulations to implement the provisions will be promulgated

3) Effective date
- The act takes effect two years after becoming law
- Immediate authority to issue necessary rules/regulations for implementation, with such actions allowable before the effective date

Administrative and oversight notes
- Referred to the Senate Transportation Committee (April 28, 2026)
- Prime sponsor: Sen. Pete Harckham (co-sponsor)
- Public access and transparency are emphasized through public data availability and annual reporting

Potential impact and considerations
- Increased transparency and data-driven management of winter road operations
- Enhanced accountability for material usage and calibration accuracy
- Potential cost implications for municipalities to calibrate equipment and adopt data systems
- Environmental benefits through better monitoring of road salt impacts and informing reduction strategies
- Data-sharing coordination with DEC may influence statewide salt-reduction policies

This summary provides a concise overview of S. 10094’s provisions, goals, and practical implications for state and municipal winter maintenance operations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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