Spending a billion-plus dollars on a town of 140,000? Really? It would be different if the demographics table showed population increase. The town dropped from 220,000 in 1950 to 163,000 in 1990. It’s practically dead, and this whole road construction idea is just dumping federal funding down some massive pit.
I read the article. I’m wondering what a “community grid” is, and how it would replace an interstate highway.
If you build it, you can force them to come.
>>U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Rep. John Katko, R-Camillus, have declined to take a position on the I-81 project, insisting the decision must be driven by the community, not elected officials.
Elected officials don’t have any say about budgets?
Will the local community be paying for this by themselves?
or will they be asking daddy warbucks to take them to disneyland?
>>She added, “I’ve seen this across New York. If you want a vibrant economy, create a vibrant downtown.”
Nobody goes downtown in many cities in this country if they don’t have to.
Civic offices etc.
Creating arts/sports/dining districts is folly.
My take....prepare yourself for a monstrous Casino in Syracuse.
...The federal government typically pays about 80 percent of the costs of interstate highway projects...
That’s you!
1950 220,583 7.1%
1960 216,038 −2.1%
1970 197,208 −8.7%
1980 170,105 −13.7%
1990 163,860 −3.7%
2000 147,306 −10.1%
2010 145,170 −1.5%
The above are Census figs for Syracuse. The charlie foxtrot Gillibrand wants to waste OPM on is not going to fix THAT.
I am old enough to remember long distance driving before interstates. You would take a US highway from town to town where you would get caught in the local downtown traffic. The best towns had a bypass highway to avoid the downtown. I can’t imagine a modern interstate emptying into local streets for a trip through town. Anyhow here are some pictures of the Syracuse alternatives https://www.dot.ny.gov/i81opportunities/alternatives
A little background. The I-81 overpass runs through the city of Syracuse effectively cutting the city in half. I can see it from my office. The problem is that it has reached the end of its life and must be replaced. The three alternatives are:
1) Building a new overpass. Although it sounds simple it would require using eminent domain to demolish building all along its path. This is because regulations now require the addition of shoulders that the current overpass lacks.
2) Tearing down the overpass and replacing it with a street grid, which Gillibrand (and I) favor. This would require diverting current north-south traffic onto the 481-690 beltway that circles the city.
3) Digging a tunnel under the city, i.e. another Big Dig. This is by far the most expensive alternative. For that reason it’s the one I expect will be ultimately approved.
The problem is the viaduct is old. It’s gonna start collapsing, and once that starts the whole thing will be shut down. It all has to be taken out no matter what (enormous messy job).
Once that’s removed at great cost, replacing it (tunnel, surface, elevated) will be prohibitively expensive & disruptive.
This will kill Syracuse.
(I’m from Syracuse area.)
....is Syracuse a sanctuary city?
These projects always work out so well.
She just wants support from construction unions and contractors.
Do I understand this right? They are going to reroute I-81 traffic through downtown Syracuse a la Breezewood?
What a thickheaded idea!
“Given where the stakeholders are “
When progressives start throwing ‘stakeholder’ around get ready to be screwed.
Just another scheme to shoehorn visitors into an area they’d rather not be in... if they had a choice.
Now once the perps ID an out of state plate they will predate with total abandon knowing the vics will not return for what now, settles for justice.
This elevated HW was once described as a modern day wonder of the world.
Today tptb in academia, where this hare brained plot was hatched, are sacrificing technological achievement for more diversity. That’s it in a nut shell.
They did this in Boston. Tore down an elevated highway and put mostly parks through there. I guess it’s better. I never spend a lot of time there.
I’ve been posting like forever about what a moron this ditz Gillibrand is. A complete moron. So what does that make the lazy voters who, rather than do any research on the other candidates, just pulled the lever for the incumbent? I hate getting screwed over by voters to the left, right, hind, and front of me being this kind of lazy, careless voter. I have to live with their stupidity.