route 17 planning and environment linkages study
TRANSCRIPT
Route 17 Planning and Environment Linkages StudyNEWSLETTER 3
Where We Are NowThe New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is taking feedback received from corridor municipalities, agencies and stakeholders during the Route 17 Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) Study, and using this input to inform the Draft Scoping/PEL Report. The Report includes refined and screened transportation alternatives for the corridor as well as a record of analysis completed during the study, including the following:
• A review of existing corridor conditions• Updated vision, purpose & need, and goals & objectives• Alternatives and concepts for consideration• Potential impacts and analysis of alternatives
Study Recommendations
Public Involvement Summary
• Non-motorized transportation• Transportation demand• Development & business impacts• Interchange improvement details• Traffic impacts• Project timing • Costs
Important Issues• Two public workshops held
• 300+ attendees throughout the corridor
• Third public workshop in September
PEL Study recommendations incorporate current data, technical analysis, and input from the public and agencies. The project team evaluated previous study alternatives to determine if they are still valid for today’s conditions. Recommended actions in the current study include:
• Adding a general use third lane
• Modifying interchanges to meet current design standards and enhance safety and operations
• Enhancing connectivity to existing transit
The Route 17 corridor in Orange and Sullivan counties will support a robust, equitable, economic future with safe, efficient, and reliable access for all users while preserving its scenic beauty, natural resources, and
reducing impacts to the environment and contributions to climate change. Travel will be along a well-managed
and maintained, resilient and modern facility that assures connectivity to transit to improve mobility.
Updated Corridor Vision
Input from the public helped revise this statement to reflect current corridor interests
Route 17 Planning & Environment Linkages Study
ANDREW M. CUOMOGovernor
MARIE THERESE DOMINQUEZCommissioner
Environmental Impacts
Next StepsThe Draft Scoping/PEL Report is available for public review and comment from September 14 to October 14, 2021. To provide comments:
Visit the project website www.dot.ny.gov/rt17pelstudy
Email the project teamMark Tiano, PE | NYSDOT Project [email protected] | 845.431.5775
Paul Lo Gallo, PE | NYSDOT Project [email protected] | 845.431.5747
An analysis of traffic safety was part of the PEL Study process. The data identified key crash locations (shown on the map below) due to the following causes:• Congestion• Closely spaced interchanges
Traffic Safety
• Animals• Fixed objectsLand use — third lane option within right of way,
few takings or relocations needed Environmental Justice/Socioeconomics — reduced congestion, increased economic development opportunities
Wetlands — minor impacts, with potential benefit to large wetland by Exit 128
Surface Water — increased runoff to be mitigated
Ground Water — minimal impacts expected
Stormwater/Erosion — infrastructure/stormwater practices needed to mitigate impacts
Cultural Resources — no known historic impacts, potential archaeological impacts from excavation Parks — no impact to state parks, heritage trail or wildlife management area
Farmland Protection — minimal to no impacts
Visual Resources — minimal impacts to scenic corridor
Air Quality — only one intersection (Exit 120 eastbound) requires additional detailed CO emissions analysis
Noise — no impacts from third lane, minimal from interchange improvements
Ecology/Wildlife — limited habitat impacts, minimize runoff and indirect impacts to aquatic species
The project team reviewed the potential environmental impacts of study recommendations as part of the PEL Study process.
Attend our Next Virtual Public Workshop!
Route 17 PEL Study Public Workshop #3Tuesday, September 14, 2021
6:30 p.m. − 8:30 p.m.
Register at https://bit.ly/Rt17PEL3