Letter to Commissioner Gee

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer released a letter to Stanley Gee, Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), urging him to reconsider the potentially indefinite suspension of an important study on the extension of Rt. 219 that will ultimately allow a key portion of the long awaited road to go forward. NYSDOT is required to complete a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement(SEIS) before construction on the final seven phases of the project can begin. A delay on this important step in the project could have a chilling effect and put the entire enterprise in doubt. The $4-$6 million cost of the study is a moderate amount when compared to the potential economic benefit that the completion of the Rt. 219 extension can have, and Schumer said that the state should make this a priority, despite the current fiscal environment, because the road is so important and already so far behind schedule.

"It is hard to believe that once again the state is kicking the Route 219 project further down the road," Schumer said. "I recognize that we are in difficult financial times, but in this case the state has an obligation to move forward both because of the economic benefits the road would deliver and how far behind the state has fallen. This project must be made a priority, not put on the shelf for another 10 years."

The Route 219 project, which will ultimately link the NYS Thruway (in West Seneca) and Salamanca via a four-lane highway, has been divided into twelve parts. While the first four sections have been completed and the fifth section is set to open in fall 2010, sections six through twelve are on hold until an SEIS can be completed. States across the country are faced with sour fiscal climates, but Schumer said this project deserves particular attention as the state has fallen so far behind on the planning and construction of the road. Investing in a project like Rt. 219 will have an economic multiplier effect that will benefit all of Western New York beyond the initial investment in the study.

The Route 219 project would fill a gaping hole in New York State's transportation infrastructure: the Western New York region lacks a clear north-to-south connector. Without a sophisticated highway corridor it is difficult to attract and retain industries, who thrive on efficient access to markets and suppliers. If the project is made a priority by NYSDOT, then completion of the SEIS for Route 219 would serve as an economic shot in the arm for Western New York.

Schumer has long fought for the completion of the Route 219 upgrade, and has helped to secure millions in federal funding.

The full text of Schumer's letter to Acting Commissioner Gee can be seen below:

Dear Acting Commissioner Gee:

I write to ask that New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) continue work on the Route 219 Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). I understand that NYSDOT has suspended efforts to complete the SEIS because of fiscal constraints, but this project is of critical importance to the economy of Western New York, and would drive development in the region in the coming years.

I understand that the Route 219 project, which will link the New York State Thruway in West Seneca to Salamanca via a four-lane highway, has been divided into twelve parts. While the first four sections have been completed and the fifth section is set to open in fall 2010, sections six through twelve are on hold until an SEIS can be completed. I appreciate that states across the country are faced with dismal fiscal climates, but this project deserves particular attention, as New York State has fallen far behind on the planning and construction of the road.

The Route 219 project would fill a gaping hole in New York State's transportation infrastructure: the Western New York region lacks a clear north-to-south connector. Without a sophisticated highway corridor it is difficult to attract and retain industries, who thrive on efficient access to markets and suppliers. A return to work on Route 219 is vital to the Western New York economy, and I urge NYSDOT to make the SEIS a priority.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Katie Kulpa in my Washington, DC office at 202-224-6542.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator

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