With New Catskill Casino In The Works, Schumer Renews Call For Widening Of Route 17 To Accommodate Expected Spike In Traffic

With New Catskill Casino In The Works, Schumer Renews Call For Widening Of Route 17 To Accommodate Expected Spike In Traffic

Today, US Senator Charles E. Schumer renewed his call to expedite the expansion of Route 17 in anticipation of new traffic that would result from casino planned for Monticello. Schumer has long led the effort to widen Route 17 to three lanes in both directions. In 2005, Schumer secured $1 million in the Transportation Reauthorization bill for the project. The stretch of road in Sullivan County is notorious for back-ups that will worsen if the planned Catskill casino is constructed.

"The traffic on Route 17 is bad enough now, and a new casino would only increase the bottlenecks," Schumer said. "Expanding this vital artery will take some time so we need to get to work now, long before the first slot machine lights up." Schumer said that, due to increased population and tourism, traffic on Route 17 is already a serious problem. It is also clear that the volume of traffic would significantly increase if a new casino were built. The new casino is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors to the area and without major improvements to and expansions of the highway back-ups would become intolerable. Schumer noted that the delays are already an inconvenience for motorists, a damaging drain on business and a potential hazard as well.

Schumer's proposal would create a third lane in both directions from Harriman in Orange County to Monticello in Sullivan County along the existing Route 17. While the upgrades to Route 17 under the Interstate 86 project are an important step forward, because they do not include widening Route 17 to handle greater traffic volume, they are insufficient, according to Schumer.

An expanded Route 17 would handle substantially more traffic and enhance the safety of drivers. The Hudson Valley is one of the most economically dynamic regions in the state and its population is among the fastest growing. Sullivan County is also growing and attracting visitors and weekend residents alike. At certain peak times, such as Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings, the combination of commuters and weekend traffic intensify congestion and force parts of Route 17 to a standstill.

In the 2005 Transportation Reauthorization Bill, Senators Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton secured $1 million toward the study and design of widening Route 17 from four lanes to six lanes from Harriman to Monticello in order to accommodate millions of new visitors and residents to the area. These upgrades are absolutely vital to continuing economic growth in the region, easing traffic congestion, and ensuring that this roadway remains safe for motorists. To date, the state has not spent the funding.

In light of the proposal to build a new casino, such an expanded Route 17 project would handle substantially more traffic and enhance the safety of drivers. However, current NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to bring the key artery to interstate standards do not include any widening of the increasingly congested highway.

In his letter to acting New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn, Schumer wrote, "widening Route 17 is an investment in the future of the Hudson Valley region that will both enhance the quality of life of its residents, and improve the economy for all New Yorkers...Again, I urge you to use the money that has already been appropriated and expeditiously initiate a study of the widening of Route 17."

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/record.cfm?id=270454