MONTICELLO – The NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) is seeking public input during its Route 17 Planning & Environment Linkages (PEL) Study, now ongoing.

“Their goal is to assess the feasibility and potential impacts of various changes to Route 17, including adding a third lane, reconfiguring access points, and potentially closing some exits,” explains Sullivan County Planning Commissioner Freda Eisenberg, who has been representing the County during the study.

“Most of us use this critical conduit on a regular basis, and what does or doesn’t happen to the highway will ultimately affect all of us,” she adds. “This is OUR chance to have input on the region’s transportation needs and guide the DOT in making changes that really will be improvements.”

Details of the study – including informative public presentations – can be found at www.dot.ny.gov/rt17pelstudy. Click on “Resources” for PDFs of the DOT’s information sessions. The most recent is labeled “Public Workshop Presentation #2.”

Another public session is planned for September 14, time and location to be announced. In the meantime, DOT engineers are accepting comments and answering questions:

• Mark Tiano, PE: Mark.Tiano@dot.ny.gov OR (845) 431-5775
• Paul Lo Gallo, PE: Paul.LoGallo@dot.ny.gov OR (845) 431-5747

“Whether you’re for or against what DOT is proposing, this is the time to weigh in,” Eisenberg urges. “And the more of us who participate, the better the outcome will be for Sullivan County.”