Coalition Rallies for Funding Route 17 Upgrades, Expansion

Business and civic leaders, law enforcement and elected officials joined members of the 17-Forward-86 Coalition at the Galleria at Crystal Run in Middletown, N.Y., March 10 to call on New York State leaders to allocate funding for an additional lane and other upgrades on Route 17 as part of the new five-year state Department of Transportation (DOT) capital plan.

17-Forward-86, a broad-based coalition of industry, trade and civic representatives, is seeking to improve mobility and safety in the region by providing necessary upgrades and an additional travel lane along Route 17 in Orange and Sullivan counties. The group is urging Gov. Kathy Hochul and state legislators to commit construction funding as part of the developing NYSDOT five-year capital plan, to be enacted as part of the state budget that is due April 1. They are requesting the state utilize part of the more than $5 billion in additional funding that has been earmarked for New York State under the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“We are grateful to Gov. Hochul for making Route 17 a priority for investment,” said 17-Forward-86 Coalition co-chair Maureen Halahan, President and CEO of the Orange County Partnership.

Halahan noted the governor has cited funding the conversion of Route 17 to Interstate 86 in Orange and Sullivan counties as part of the state’s capital plan, and that the state DOT will begin an environmental review for the conversion. “The ongoing state budget process makes this a critical point for making these well-documented and much-needed upgrades a reality,” Hallahan said. “This is our time. The project is poised to move forward and the state has the resources to make it happen.”

The NYSDOT recently issued the final Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) study for the Route 17 corridor. The final PEL report was based on extensive public outreach and provides the path forward to address current and future transportation needs on Route 17. The PEL confirmed previous NYSDOT studies, including a 2013 study sponsored by Sen. Chuck Schumer, that identified an additional travel lane, safety upgrades and enhanced park-and-ride lots as necessary to address safety and mobility needs across the Route 17 corridor.

“This is about mobility for all, and that includes the thousands of daily bus riders, many of whom use the 15 park-and-ride lots along Route 17,” said Sharon Soons, Executive Director of Vision Hudson Valley, and coalition member. “They deserve a reliable and predictable ride, whether they are traveling within Sullivan and Orange, or headed to New York City. Let’s get the environmental studies going and chart the best path forward. The federal money is there. Let’s seize this opportunity for the Hudson Valley – for our residents, our visitors and our future.”

17-Forward-86 founding member John Cooney Jr., Executive Director of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester & and Hudson Valley, Inc., noted efforts by New York representatives at the federal level – including Sen. Schumer and U.S. Reps. Mondaire Jones, Sean Patrick Maloney and Anthony Delgado in securing the $5 billion for New York State.

“New York State has never, in its history, had a better opportunity to increase the amount of money to spend on its roads and bridges and specifically on Route 17,” Cooney said. “The federal government has given New York State a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to leverage its dollars and truly make improvements in our infrastructure. Let’s seize it.”

David Yannetta of Local 825, International Union of Operating Engineers, cited the economic benefits to the local workforce: “Infrastructure is a bridge to our future, creating jobs so people can raise families, build strong communities and support local economies. Improving and upgrading the Route 17 corridor will go a long way toward helping our Hudson Valley region recover and prosper.”

Orange County Undersheriff Ken Jones cited the critical role mobility plays in transporting the sick or injured to medical treatment, especially with fewer community hospitals nearby.

“Today, medical services are delivered through regional hospitals that have many more services available, but are further spaced apart,” Jones said. “These roads are what we rely on to deliver those services in a timely fashion … (or) tragic outcomes can occur. So, the expansion of roadways is supporting the network of police, fire, ambulance services that make our community safe. One of the pillars of any society is the safety of its residents. That is why we support this particular project.”

17-Forward-86 Coalition co-chair Marc Baez, President and CEO of the Sullivan County Partnership, urged the state to act now and seize the opportunity to make the long-overdue upgrades to Route 17.

“There are thousands of stakeholders committed to seeing this project through,” Baez said. “We’re at the 30-yard line. This budget must get us into the end zone or we’ll be stuck on the 30-yard line for at least another five years. That extra $5 billion in federal funding earmarked for New York State positions us to move forward – now. Let’s run with it.”

Local and state officials also attended Thursday’s event to show support for the project.

Orange County’s Deputy Executive Harold Porr voiced his and County Executive Steve Neuhaus’s support for the Route 17 expansion: “Over 20 years ago I was on a radio show (and) the topic … was ‘Turning 17 into 86’. It’s been long enough. Let’s get it done now.”

Sen. James Skoufis, D-39th, said it is “high time” Route 17 gets the investment it deserves: “State and federal officials must come together with organized labor, community leaders, and other stakeholders to address this longstanding quality-of-life issue. This is our opportunity to finally address the severe traffic that local residents face during peak summer times and, all the while, put our construction men and women to work.”

Sen. Mike Martucci, R-42nd, said calls to improve Route 17 have been talked about for 20 years, but now there is federal money available: “Our time is now. The groundwork has been laid and the men and women of labor who stand behind us today are ready to get this done with us. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to finally address an issue that impacts our quality of life, our economic development and really everything here in the Hudson Valley. Let's get this done.”

Route 17 is “woefully deficient based on any New York State highway standard,” said Town of Thompson Supervisor William J. Rieber, Jr. “We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to take on a project this size and cement Orange and Sullivan counties as the economic epicenter of the Hudson Valley.”

Town of Wallkill Supervisor George Serrano, said: “We are, along with everyone here, large stakeholders in this. The Town of Wallkill is 100 percent behind this project. Let’s get this going. We support it, we want it, let’s do it.”

The following elected officials also voiced support for expanding and upgrading Route 17.

Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, D-100th, said: “Infrastructure is vital to the continued growth of our area, and the (Route 17) expansion is critically important. Our communities have been growing rapidly, and the existing highway is not up to the task of supporting current traffic levels. We all have experienced the backups that occur throughout the year on Route 17. This expansion will help ease congestion, create good paying jobs, and meet the demand of the thousands who travel into our area.”

Assemblyman Karl Brabenec, R-98th said: “Expanding Route 17 is a cause that both sides of the aisle can agree is key to promoting economic development, tourism, and sustainability in the Hudson Valley. I am working hard in Albany to push for full funding in this year's state budget for the 17-Forward-86 project, and I look forward to seeing the tremendous positive impact this program will have on Hudson Valley communities.”

Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson, D-104th, said: “The widening of Route 17 is essential for the growth and prosperity of the Hudson Valley. Any further delays in the process is unacceptable. As a member of the Assembly Transportation Committee, I have strongly advocated for this project. Let's put the federal infrastructure money to work now.”

Assemblyman Colin J. Schmitt, R-99th, said: “The expansion of Route 17 is a critical project for the Hudson Valley, enhancing the well-being of residents, strengthening our local economy, and easing the regional commute. Orange County and its population are on the rise — our local roads need to reflect that increase with modernized and efficient infrastructure. I stand in full support of Route 17’s expansion. Let’s move forward in this year’s budget.”

About 17-Forward-86

17-Forward-86 was established in August 2018 by a dedicated group of advocates who support the widening of Route 17. The coalition comprises more than 200 members of economic development groups, construction trades, environmental stewardship, tourism groups, business, health care and energy companies who share a common vision for expanding the capacity of Route 17 to strengthen the economic well-being of the Hudson Valley and Sullivan Catskills. To learn more, visit www.17Forward86.org.

PHOTO CAPTION: Members of the 17-Forward-86 Coalition joined lawmakers, business and community leaders March 10 near Route 17 in Middletown, N.Y., to rally for funding an additional lane and other upgrades on the Route 17 corridor as part of the five-year New York State Department of Transportation capital plan. Pictured are (front row, from left): James Smith, President, Advance Testing Co. and 17-Forward-86 member; Amanda Dana, President, Hudson Valley Tourism; Orange County Deputy Executive Harold Porr;
Town of Wallkill Supervisor George Serrano; New York State Sen. James Skoufis, D-39th; Heather Bell-Meyer, President, Orange County Chamber of Commerce; Town of Thompson Supervisor William J. Rieber, Jr.; Maureen Halahan, President and CEO, Orange County Partnership and co-chair, 17-Forward-86; Marc Baez, President and CEO, Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development and co-chair, 17-Forward-86; Sharon Soons, Executive Director of Vision Hudson Valley, and 17-Forward-86 member; Chris Schwall, Local 825, International Union of Operating Engineers; Jaime Schmeiser, President and CEO, Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce; and John Cooney Jr., Executive Director of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester & and Hudson Valley, Inc. and 17-Forward-86 member.