Lane change Wider Rt. 17 suggested in light of casino plan By BRYAN F. YURCAN

Lane change
Wider Rt. 17 suggested in light of casino plan
By BRYAN F. YURCAN

Rendering of the St. Regis Mohawk's proposed casino in the Catskills.

With an eye on the impact of a potential Indian-run casino in the Catskills, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer wants to see one of Sullivan County’s main thoroughfares expanded.

Although the casino project has not been finalized, Schumer is proposing to create a third lane in both directions from Harriman in Orange County to Monticello along Route 17.

In the 2005 Transportation Reauthorization Bill, Sens. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton secured $1 million toward the study and design of widening Route 17 from four to six lanes from Harriman to Monticello, according to Schumer’s press office.

The state Department of Transportation (DOT) must authorize any work done to Route 17 since it is a state road.

In a letter to acting New York state DOT Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn, Schumer wrote, “Widening Route 17 is an investment in the future of the Hudson Valley region that will both enhance the quality of life of its residents, and improve the economy for all New Yorkers ... Again, I urge you to use the money that has already been appropriated and expeditiously initiate a study of the widening of Route 17.”

DOT spokeswoman Jennifer Post said the agency is “considering that option as part of a design and review of our upgrade of Route 17 to federal interstate standards.”

However, Schumer claims the state’s plans to bring the key artery to interstate standards do not include any widening of the highway.

Gov. Eliot Spitzer last month announced an agreement with the St. Regis Mohawk tribe to build a casino in the Catskills.

The agreement amends an existing gaming compact with the Mohawks, granting the tribe authority to build and operate a gaming facility at Monticello Raceway. A 2001 state law allowed for three Indian-run casinos in the Catskills, although none have been built.

The casino project hinges on approval from the U.S. Department of Interior to place the 30-acre piece of land near the raceway into a trust, which would allow the casino to be built in compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The proposed site is hundreds of miles away from the nearest Mohawk tribal land, thus necessitating the need for the land to be taken into trust.

Jonathan Rouis, vice chairman of the Sullivan County Board of Legislators and chairman of the board’s Subcommittee on Indian Affairs, agreed the road should be expanded even if the casino doesn’t come.

“The state is going to have to start looking at infrastructure in the county,” he said.

He said the county legislators are by and large in favor of the casino project.

“It would be a positive for the county and the state, but I’m cautiously optimistic,” he said. “We’ve been down this road for 25 years. This is a positive step, but it’s just another step in the process.”

Reader Comments

Please send us your comments!

Add Your Comments

TalkBack & let us know what YOU think.

If you have something to add to this discussion topic, we'd like to know.

To send a comment:

1. Enter your full name
2. Enter your email address
3. Post your comment and click 'Submit'

Full Name:

Email Address:

Example: johndoe@aol.com

Comments:
Post your comment here
(WestfairInc reserves the right to edit any text for broadcast)