U.S. Rep. John Katko is holding three more town hall meetings across Central, New York in DeWitt, Syracuse and Salina to discuss the future of Interstate 81.
The first of the four was held on Monday in Auburn.
Katko is holding the town hall meetings to listen and discuss locals concerns regarding the truck industry, lakes, pollution and traffic in the relation to the new Interstate 81 alternative.
The state is assessing three possible options for replacing the highway. They are considering rebuilding it entirely while making it higher and wider. An alternative to this is building a tunnel, or lastly demolishing it and diverting traffic into Interstate 481.
Katko says he understand the importance of Interstate 81 decision and the effects it has on the entire region.
“This is a regional issue, not just a city issue,” Katko told attendees at a forum at Cayuga Community College.
Katko acknowledges that the initial plan and report was not considerate of the effects of these on specific communities and now wants the community to have a say.
Syracuse’s Mayor, Ben Walsh, acknowledge the issues the alternative will cause as far as traffic and pollution, but says these problems are inevitable when tackling the I-81 issues; however, he says he is offering to be a partner and address these issues.
The State is expected to release a second draft of the environmental impact statement, after hearing the public’s opinion and analyzing the environmental impacts.
