Postponed Exit 131 project most important in state

Editor's note: Monroe Supervisor Sandy Leonard sent the following letter to the governor on Feb. 16.

Dear Governor Cuomo, As a member of the Governor's Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Counsel, a voting member of the Orange County Transportation Council, a founding member of the Orange County Southeast Regional Traffic Task Force and the Supervisor of the Town of Monroe, I implore you to listen to my request with the utmost consideration.

The Exit 131 Reconstruction Project is fully designed by NYS Department of Transportation Region 8 and was scheduled to begin construction next year (2013). The project was pushed back to 2017 through DOT's program update at the very same time NY Works Projects area being proposed. It's hard to imagine that this project would not meet the criteria of job generation that you are looking for both from the construction jobs angle and from the jobs it would eventually create at Woodbury Commons and other area business. This project would be the most important project from our area to be put on the Governor's list for New York Works. This project originated from our small but determined group in the southern part of Orange County. NYSDOT Region 8 agreed and incorporated the project into their program.

This is not just a local, county or regional issue. It is a state and national issue. When you look at a map and step back we are at the crossroads of the north south route from Canada to Florida and east west route from the rest of the country to the northeast and New England. One way or the other people going places are passing through our local. If New York approves gambling in the Catskills we are going to need every bit of help we can get to move the traffic through this precarious area. Additionally, Woodbury Commons brings traffic and tremendous tax revenue. If they are to have a successful expansion they need this project now. Without it there will be no place to put the cars. Also, this area is currently a bottle neck and part of major evacuation routes which could prove problematic. As you well know this project has the strong support of the senior US Senator from New York, Charles Schumer.

Thank you for your time and please give this your strong consideration. It would be appreciated.

Sandy Leonard Town of Monroe Supervisor