W I N T E R
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Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development uSullivan County Industrial Development Agency uSullivan County Chamber of Commerce uSullivan Catskills Visitors AssociationuSullivan County Democrat
INSIDE: The push for a third lane on Route 17 continues
To the People: Closing out the year page 2E Fairfield Inn and Suites coming to Monticello page 3E County of Sullivan IDA Update page 4E 2019 an exciting year for Sullivan Catskills page 7E The year just past… the year ahead page 10E
FRED STABBERT III | DEMOCRAT
Local officials and lawmakers are continuing to push for the addition of a third lane on Route 17 in Sullivan and Orange Counties. Several miles of the highway, like this stretch looking west near exit 113 in Wurtsboro, already have three lanes. BY JOSEPH ABRAHAM
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conomic development growth has caused increased traffic on Route 17 in Sullivan and Orange Counties. Now local officials and lawmakers are hoping to get the green light on funding for a project that would make it easier to travel to and from the neighboring counties in the state’s upcoming budget. In August 2018, 17-Forward-86 –– a coalition comprised of more than 200 members of economic development groups, construction trades, tourism groups and energy companies who support expanding the capacity of Route
17 –– was established. Last Wednesday, State Senators Jen Metzger, James Skoufis and Tim Kennedy (chairs the Committee on Transportation), joined local elected officials and members of 17-Forward-86 in Woodbury for a press conference advocating for the addition of a third lane on Route 17. The Senators discussed the necessary funding of $100 million per year needed in the Department of Transportation’s 2020 five-year capital plan to add a third lane to expand Route 17 to Interstate 86. “The prosperity of the region I represent requires efficient and convenient transportation between New York City and our Mid-Hudson and Catskills com-
munities, whether it’s our residents getting to work, our farmers getting their produce to market, or the many thousands of visitors that come to enjoy the tourist attractions and extraordinary beauty of our region,” Metzger said. “We face an immediate and urgent need to invest in the Route 17 expansion to accommodate the renaissance the region is experiencing and allow for future growth.”
What’s been done The New York State Department of Transportation released a thirteen-monthlong study on the Route 17 Transporta-
Please see RT. 17, page 12E
Growth and commitment highlight Chamber's year page 14E Real Estate market remains strong page 16E Sonny Patel joins Hudson Valley EDC page 17E Providers promoted at GHVHS page 18E Focus Media welcomes new VP Renee Bulla page 19E