The future of Interstate 81
Over the past decade the discussion on the future of Interstate 81 has built momentum but never reached critical mass because missing from the puzzle were the concerns of the county’s municipalities.
Despite that, time and again, the leadership of those towns and villages have come together in support of maintaining high-speed access through the CNY community. We’ve adopted resolutions and sent letters to the Governor and our state representatives about the importance of this vital roadway to our region now and into the future. And, while towns and villages such as Salina, Cicero and DeWitt are designated as participating agencies in the latest version of the state Department of Transportation (DOT)’s preliminary Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), the leaders of these communities have yet to receive any notable or significant communication from DOT.
As the DOT heads into the recently added neighborhood meeting in Salina, now is the time to have an honest, genuine conversation about the future of the I-81 project. While local community leadership has yet to be heard regarding the format of these neighborhood meetings, it is time for the residents of our towns and villages to demand an open dialogue and ask how this project will impact the daily lives of CNY and Syracuse residents. Scheduling open public forums would be a crucial step in the process to find a regional consensus solution. The state’s latest preliminary draft is not final — each of us deserves a say in the future of our city and county.
That being said, we were extremely disappointed with Governor Cuomo’s recent endorsement of the community grid option. A final meeting scheduled in Salina makes it crystal clear that our community still has time to cooperate on this issue. The governor’s endorsement sends a message that the state does not understand the colossal impact of this project on our economy and on our residents. Until the final EIS is released, we cannot move forward with a decision that will substantially impact the future of all of us.
While silencing a majority of Onondaga County is problem enough, the latest preliminary DEIS also ignores the regional economic impacts. In its current state, the community grid option has the potential to cripple an already challenging economy. Without specifics regarding economic impact on the potentially displaced highway businesses and attractions, it is clear that the DOT has not considered the local economic factors affecting all of Onondaga County. The strategic placement of such businesses and attractions has provided a foundation for the local economy we have spent our lives developing. The DOT is still unprepared to explain what the negative impacts would be if they were to plow under the foundation upon which we have built our economy.
The future of I-81 will affect the quality of life of Onondaga County residents and their children well into the future. In making a generational decision such as this, it is only fair that all stakeholders have an opportunity to have their voices heard. It’s more important than ever that our neighbors continue to press for information on this project. With questions regarding economic impact in certain areas, accurate traffic predictions and more, the residents of Onondaga County must come together and urge the DOT to choose a path for I-81 that moves us all forward.
