Elected officials and union leaders are gathering to make roads safer in the future.

The two groups are meeting at the International Union of Operating Engineers in Montrose to ask for an $800 million increase in funding for transportation needs in the next state budget.

They say the roads need to be brought up to the standards of the rest of the state.

"We have had the worst road and bridge conditions for over 10 years in region 8,” said Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley Inc. Executive Director John Cooney. “Something has to change at some point."

Officials added the funds for the state DOT should also be designated for roads and bridges in Hudson Valley.