New York - Eliot Spitzer Pushes I-86 Highway, For Economic Benefits

New York - Gubernatorial candidate and state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer says that completion of Interstate 86 across the Southern Tier tops his list of infrastructure improvements needed to expand the state's economic activity. "Already, in the counties where Route 17 has been designated with interstate status, new distribution centers and manufacturing facilities are being built," Spitzer said. "The state must maintain its commitment to fully funding and finishing I-86 as soon as possible."

The I-86 project involves the conversion of about 380 miles of state Route 17 from the Pennsylvania border in western New York to the Thruway in Orange County into an interstate highway. Spitzer said New York's congressional delegation has to work together to secure the funding necessary to complete these projects.
"One of the greatest assets New York has that is underutilized is the potential power of our congressional delegation," he said. "We have not organized them and structured that delegation to focus on New York specific proposals. Take I-86: We go (to Washington, D.C.) with a mission to ensure we get the funding for I-86.