The General Contractors Association of NY and the Long Island Association, a business group, both argued for the act on the bases of mass transit investment, infrastructure repair, jobs and, in the case of the LIA, highway widening and rail freight improvements.

The Citizens Budget Commission, the New York Post and Crain's New York Business gave the question thumbs down, arguing against increasing the state's debt and the Legislature's unwillingness to deal with tough revenue problems directly. Crains charged that NY State has used increases in federal transportation funding to divert state money away from transit and highway needs. Also citing debt, the NY Conservative Party kicked off an upstate ad campaign this weekend urging a "no" vote.

The NYC Independent Budget Office didn't take a position on the act but said its analysis showed NYC residents would reap more benefits than they would pay for in debt service if the act passed (the IBO assumed all transportation spending would be beneficial).

The Committee for Safe Roads and Improved Transportation, a road lobby group in Albany, has raised $108,000 for an upstate ad campaign supporting the bond act, Newsday reported last Wednesday.