RESOLUTION NO. 17-408
RESOLUTION URGING GOVERNOR CUOMO AND THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE TO ADVANCE FUNDING AND EXPEDITE COMPLETION OF THE “DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN” INTERSTATE 86 PROJECTS IN BROOME, DELAWARE, SULLIVAN, AND ORANGE COUNTIES
By: Pastrick
Seconded by: Strange
WHEREAS, Governor Pataki committed to a ten-to-twelve-year construction program to complete the Route 17 conversion to Interstate 86 (“I-86”) beginning with the first designation (177 miles Chemung County West to Pennsylvania) on December 3, 1999; and
WHEREAS, the designation of New York State Route 17 to I-86 provides a superhighway with connection to every Interstate Highway located within New York State and Interstate Highways leading into Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, the upgrade and designation of Route 17 as I-86 will make the region more competitive and able to attract substantial growth in business, industry, and tourism as well as improve the safety of the traveling public; and
WHEREAS, the New York I-86 Economic Development Benefit Study, issued in January 2000, which was widely accepted and quoted at all levels of government, called for an aggressive eight-year construction period that would result in a 3.2-billion-dollar direct economic benefit to communities along the I-86 Highway Corridor once the conversion has been completed; and
WHEREAS, with proper funding and resources (Fast Track/Design Build) for the remaining projects in Broome, Delaware, Sullivan, and Orange Counties, the conversion of Route 17 to I-86 could be completed many years sooner than on the present schedule providing vast economic benefits to the Hudson Valley, Southern Tier, and Western New York regions and would yield significant economic benefits for the nation by facilitating national freight flows, reducing travel times, improving safety, enhancing access to markets, creating new jobs and greater value-added activity; and
WHEREAS, due to the lack of funding the current Administration has been unable to commit to a timetable for completing the conversion of Route 17 to Interstate I-86; and
WHEREAS, additional funding for state infrastructure projects, specifically the modernization of roads and bridges, may be forth coming from the Federal Government; and
WHEREAS, the primary economic development agencies in Orange and Sullivan Counties have formed a Coalition to promote the widening of Route 17 to six lanes over the 47 miles between Harriman and Monticello; and
WHEREAS, the Chemung County Executive and the Highway Committee have recommended that the Chemung County Legislature authorize this Resolution; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Chemung County Legislature does hereby request Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature advance funding (Fast Track/Design Build) expediting completion of the projects in Broome, Delaware, Sullivan, and Orange Counties on New York State Route 17 so that the same may be converted to I-86; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Legislature is hereby authorized and directed to forward certified copies of this resolution to Governor Andrew Cuomo, Honorable John Flanagan, Honorable Carl Heastie, Honorable Christopher Friend, Honorable Thomas O’Mara, Honorable David Gantt, Honorable Catherine Young, Honorable Fred Ashkar, Honorable David Carlucci, Honorable John Bonacic, Honorable William Larkin, Honorable Joseph Giglio, Honorable Kenneth Zebrowski, Honorable Philip Palmesano, Honorable Karl Brabenec, Honorable Donna Lupardo, Honorable Aileen Gunther, Honorable Andy Goodell, Honorable Thomas Santulli, Inter-county Association of Western New York, New York State Association of Counties, Schuyler County, and the I-86 Corridor Counties (Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Allegany, Steuben, Tioga, Broome, Delaware, Sullivan, Orange).
Ayes: Pastrick, Sweet, Brennan, Miller, Hyland, Milliken, Woodard, Fairchild, Chalk, Collins, Madl, Strange, Draxler (Chair) (13); Excused: Manchester, Jackson (2); Opposed: None; CARRIED.