MedicCook
02-24-2007, 05:04 PM
Officials discuss new Northway Exit for Great Escape
Perhaps it would be Exit 19-and-a-half.
Government officials are discussing the feasibility of building a new exit from the Northway to handle traffic headed to Great Escape amusement park in Queensbury.
"The ideal option for us would be another exit dedicated to Great Escape. Whether that can happen or not, I don't know," said William Thomas, chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors.
If an actual exit can't be built, perhaps the Exit 20 off ramp could be rebuilt to alleviate congestion, Thomas said.
Traffic headed to Great Escape was one of the topics he and four other supervisors discussed in a two-hour meeting last week with U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, Thomas said.
Gillibrand, D-Greenport, was receptive to the idea, but said changes to interstate highways can take years of discussion, Thomas said.
"It's something we're going to work on to develop," Gillibrand said in a telephone interview Saturday.
Gillibrand said she is in the process of developing a list of regional prioty transportation projects to seek federal funding for.
"Maybe in the initial stages it would be for a feasibility study," she said.
Gillibrand said she already has requested that funding for a water line to service a new industrial park in Chester be included in a federal water bill under consideration in the House.
Supervisors also talked with Gillibrand about their disappointment the federal government did not assist with about $3 million the county spent on repairing roads washed out in Bolton by a violent thunderstorm in June 2005, Thomas said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency did not assist the county because money was needed elsewhere for relief after Hurricane Katrina, Thomas said.
Shouldering the expenses on its own put a huge strain on the county budget, Thomas said.
"We're going to look into that this week," Gillibrand said.
Along with Thomas, county Budget Officer Nicholas Caimano, Queensbury Supervisor Dan Stec, Glens Falls 4th Ward Supervisor Michael O'Connor and Glens Falls 5th Ward Supervisor William Kenny participated in the meeting Thursday at the county Municipal Center.
Supervisors said they discussed a number of economic development, transportation and recreation projects with Gillibrand.
Thomas said he requested the meeting because he wanted to make sure local projects received the same level of attention as under former U.S. Rep. John Sweeney, R-Clifton Park.
"I didn't want to see that lapse at all," he said.
Thomas said the congresswoman convinced him she would pay attention to local projects.
"It was a dialogue that needed to happen, and it was well done," said Caimano, a Republican.
"After that meeting, I have no problem calling her for assistance," said Stec, a Republican,
Gillibrand said she is arranging a followup meeting next month with the full Board of Supervisors.
http://www.poststar.com/articles/2007/02/24/news/latest/doc45e09e977cae6529222671.txt
Perhaps it would be Exit 19-and-a-half.
Government officials are discussing the feasibility of building a new exit from the Northway to handle traffic headed to Great Escape amusement park in Queensbury.
"The ideal option for us would be another exit dedicated to Great Escape. Whether that can happen or not, I don't know," said William Thomas, chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors.
If an actual exit can't be built, perhaps the Exit 20 off ramp could be rebuilt to alleviate congestion, Thomas said.
Traffic headed to Great Escape was one of the topics he and four other supervisors discussed in a two-hour meeting last week with U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, Thomas said.
Gillibrand, D-Greenport, was receptive to the idea, but said changes to interstate highways can take years of discussion, Thomas said.
"It's something we're going to work on to develop," Gillibrand said in a telephone interview Saturday.
Gillibrand said she is in the process of developing a list of regional prioty transportation projects to seek federal funding for.
"Maybe in the initial stages it would be for a feasibility study," she said.
Gillibrand said she already has requested that funding for a water line to service a new industrial park in Chester be included in a federal water bill under consideration in the House.
Supervisors also talked with Gillibrand about their disappointment the federal government did not assist with about $3 million the county spent on repairing roads washed out in Bolton by a violent thunderstorm in June 2005, Thomas said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency did not assist the county because money was needed elsewhere for relief after Hurricane Katrina, Thomas said.
Shouldering the expenses on its own put a huge strain on the county budget, Thomas said.
"We're going to look into that this week," Gillibrand said.
Along with Thomas, county Budget Officer Nicholas Caimano, Queensbury Supervisor Dan Stec, Glens Falls 4th Ward Supervisor Michael O'Connor and Glens Falls 5th Ward Supervisor William Kenny participated in the meeting Thursday at the county Municipal Center.
Supervisors said they discussed a number of economic development, transportation and recreation projects with Gillibrand.
Thomas said he requested the meeting because he wanted to make sure local projects received the same level of attention as under former U.S. Rep. John Sweeney, R-Clifton Park.
"I didn't want to see that lapse at all," he said.
Thomas said the congresswoman convinced him she would pay attention to local projects.
"It was a dialogue that needed to happen, and it was well done," said Caimano, a Republican.
"After that meeting, I have no problem calling her for assistance," said Stec, a Republican,
Gillibrand said she is arranging a followup meeting next month with the full Board of Supervisors.
http://www.poststar.com/articles/2007/02/24/news/latest/doc45e09e977cae6529222671.txt