Back in October, Mobilizing the Region reported about a fork-in-the-road decision for the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT): would it build a brand new, $4 billion “rooftop highway” in northern New York or would it modify Route 11, an existing highway that runs along a similar path?
Late last month, NYSDOT chose the latter, and advocates are pleased. Two earmarks from the 2005 federal highway bill, which totaled $6.3 million, will be used to improve Route 11. This was in lieu of paying for studies on the rooftop highway project.
“Route 11 exists. It works and we’d like to make it work better,” NYSDOT spokesman Michael Flick told the Watertown Daily.
Local advocates, led by YESeleven, are now focused on ensuring that the state makes the most of its maintenance money.
As the state prioritizes potential Route 11 improvements, Tri-State continues to urge NYSDOT Commissioner Joan McDonald to adopt a fix-it-first philosophy as the project moves forward. Emphasis should be placed on minor fixes, such as passing lanes and traffic calming measures. The state should avoid more costly road projects—town bypasses, for example—that funnel money away from downtown revitalization (at any rate, these more expensive projects run counter to the Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act).
This really makes a lot of sense. I am wondering why the “Rooftop Highway” was ever proposed in the first place. Rt 11 is almost adequate most times of the year and the main thing is the RT 11 corridor already exists and can be improved with far less damage to the environment and local towns economies than the other option.