Note: The following is an abbreviated summary of public comments received at the titled public information meeting for the North Country Transportation Study. The comments do not necessarily reflect the views of the Development Authority of the North Country, New York State Department of Transportation, or Wilbur Smith Associates.

Overall Concerns

• This is a Historic Event; Important because it kicks-off a study that have been long in coming.

• Equity throughout the region and accessibility are critical elements in the study.

• Quality of life and economic development must balance with other issues such as environmental impact.

• Improvements were promised years ago, but the state did not deliver.

• Is this really a road project?

• The North Country is more isolated now than 1900?

• We hope the study is all encompassing including airports and rail.

• We need to get people to recognize North Country

• Seaports and railroads are important for strategic defense purposes.

• We need to educate the people and create awareness of the global economy.

• If we stand still, we will be moving backwards.

• We need to get connected from a transportation and information age perspective.

• The Chamber of Commerce is ready to be a partner in the process.

• The process of constructing I-88 is similar to this process.

• Two highways – information superhighway and internet

• Project is important to entire area.

• Regionalism is a key them to the success of this study.

• Are special interest groups putting pressure on study?

• Information superhighway offers potential for growth, and may be “one of our strongest points.”

• How do we reverse downward trends, especially in the short term.

• Salary rates are an issue in the North Country because we must pay premium to attract certain workers.

• The study is not just about a road; its about the support a road can give us

Economic Development/Job Growth

• Economic Development and Transportation are closely linked.

• We need jobs so people can stay in area.

• Transportation also impacts for agriculture – it is important to the North Country.

• Small business concerns should also be studied.

• Will the road help close gap/rich and poor?

• If you have a job, this is a great place to live.

• We especially need good paying jobs that offer benefits and health coverage.

• Economic loss would mean serious quality of life loss.

• Alcoa feels it is important to move economic development in North Country ahead.

• Low per capita income is bad because it retards overall growth.

• Deficiencies in the transport system are factors in business location decisions.

• A high priority should be to stop loss of jobs.

• In general the North Country possesses a great work force

• We don’t need statistics to show there is poverty – look around.

• We need opportunities that our children and grandchildren deserve to allow them to stay “home.”

• Agriculture (dairy) is in danger of disappearing.

• We must cater to supporting industries such as processing plants; there is danger of relocation of some facilities to California.

• Need to ‘value-add’ to our natural resource base.

• Educational institution through students create a large economic impact in that they are “9 month” tourists.

• Better transportation will attract more students; Need better – Bus, Air, & Rail.

• The Thru-way is boundary of “catchment area”; need to push outward in increase competitive area.

• Transportation is important to faculty, who are on move all the time.

• Telecommunication is a big issue for students, faculty and administration - cell phones, internet access, and fiber optics.

• Studies for universities cite poor transportation access as big problem.

• Twenty (20) minutes was cited as limit parents of students will drive to reach a major highway.

• Getting prospective students to visit campuses is one key: failure to attract prospective students is a big loss.

• North Country’s tax base is weak; government and academic uses are not taxed.

• Parents are tired of / fearful of having to travel long distances to see children.

• What can be done to convince students at area colleges to stay in the area?

• Will the study examine emerging industries be evaluated.

• Small business perspective is important; The Chamber through cyber-mall supports existing small business.

• Agriculture is important and very threatened.  What will happen to people who live(d) on farms?  What about rural tax base?  Farmers starting to give up.

• The labor crisis in southern part of NY offers potential positive impact on Upstate? Industries on Long Island might be willing to make investments in North Country to help solve labor shortage.

Environmental Impacts

• Working people a part of environment, too.

• How will project impact rural areas?

• Better access can be environmentally friendly.

• The people portion of environment has been suffering.

• We are concerned about ‘forever wild’ philosophy.

• Viewpoint: prosperity breeds environment awareness

• Balance is important. We need to move forward with both good jobs and sound environmental planning.

Project History

• Is highway good idea?

• I vote for new highway.

• We don’t have the political clout.”  Do have know how to get it?

• Through a 1973 interview we learned the area was in trouble, political clout is important, and that a regional consensus is important.

Project Status

• We need to know what’s Going On!

• Why will it take so long?

• Help us get more information on the study.

• Will this be a 40 year project?

• It is high time to pick a corridor “get it done”.

Other Concerns

• Stop the “Brain Drain” lossing our most talented young people.

• Senior citizens have a concern about being away from their Children and the great distances to grandchildren.

• Traffic Safety is important as economic development.

• The cross section of audience represented in the meeting bodes well for the outreach effort.

• The study should help us become “unmarginalized”.

• Highway R-O-Ws should accommodate of agricultural equipment.

• Lack of transportation and information facilities holds back economic development.

• Telecommunications, Cable (TV) and DSL are three important elements of the information age.

• Question:  Wouldyou please validate 30% out migration stats.

• One family’s experience is that  kids are leaving accounting for the out migration.

• Cancer statistics in the North Country are alarming to many residents.

• Will study consider Ontario/Canada?

• Truck traffic:  the area is hard to gain access to (can’t get here).

• Senior citizen: they are anpowerful group; wants children to be able to live closer.

• Rail:  CSX Line is a valuable resource, but there is a general lack of traffic.

• The state needs to lower tax assessments of rail R-O-W.

• Some members of the audience are concerned about adversarial relationship developing.

• Response: read it healthy skepticism; especially concerned about high cancer rates and acid rain.

• Concerned about resorting to a 4 lane highway; first we need a definition of progress.

• St. Lawrence County is the #2 milk producer.  We need to balance exist – protect agriculture base while having economic development.

• Concerns we expressed about heavy industry leaving the area.

• Comments were offered about controlled growth that is promoted by some.

• New Jersey is a possible model for co-existence of agriculture and economic development.

• Transportation services for seniors are “terrible.”

• There is infrequent bus service (to airport), and poor intercity bus service.

• As noted, there is very little senior transportation such as travel to medical appointments, dialysis, etc.

• Bottom line: we must not leave a legacy of [unhealthy] children; health is of paramount importance.

• Woman w/cancer: Cancer could be related to previous exposure as cause not sure about statistics.

• Problem for agriculture: there is no local technical support for computerized system. Local displaced workers could be trained to provide this tech support.