I-81: Opportunity of a Lifetime

Robert M. Simpson
The portion of Interstate 81 that travels through downtown Syracuse will soon be demolished and a modern transportation system will be built to replace it. This system, we hope, will enhance the region for the next 75 to 100 years. For a community that has fought for and earned a statewide and national reputation for its remarkable level of public and private sector collaboration, this moment is an opportunity of a lifetime to re-think and re-envision our regions future. With conceptual proposals that range in cost from $700M to more than $1.5B, critical questions remain. The data and analysis needed to make a fully informed decision in support of our regions vision is not yet complete. No maps showing needed eminent domain have been made public. No street-level traffic analysis has been conducted. So we are left, for now, to speculate on the real-world impacts of any solution. But we are not entirely without facts. The existence of I-81 through Syracuse has not brought an economic boon to our region. We have lost people and business since the viaduct was constructed. The highway, of course, does not bear all of the blame, but nor has it been a panacea that should be romanticized for its economic benefits. To therefore spend a minimum of $700 million and end up with anything less than a transformational approach would be a staggering opportunity lost. We have an opportunity to reach for something better to create a solution that meets our transportation needs and advances our regions strategic goals. We must demand a solution that minimizes the width of any roadway and associated right-ofways, the need for further eminent domain, the demolition of the historic fabric of our neighborhoods, and the relocation of residents and businesses. We deserve a solution that unifies our city and links the two most powerful economic engines our community has, and better connects these assets to areas of growth and investment throughout our city and suburbs. We should expect a solution that doesnt transfer the congestion and safety concerns of the existing viaduct to our urban and rural streetscape; one that ensures downtown walkability; provides convenient access to commuters, tourists and public safety vehicles; and updates traffic patterns through our entire street grid to create better access to the city than todays I-81. And we should embrace the highest level of urban design; use state-of-the-art project phasing to minimize construction disruption; deploy state-of-the-art intelligent systems that many of our own businesses are developing to improve traffic flow and safety and build a highway worthy of the twenty-second century; and recognize the important role that mass transit must play in reducing congestion and unhealthy emissions in our region. In light of these goals, a simple fact becomes clear: todays I-81 does not serve this region as well as it should not drivers, not business, not residents.
572SOUTHSALINASTREETSYRACUSE,NY13202315.470.1800WWW.CENTERSTATECEO.COM LEADINGBUSINESSANDECONOMICDEVELOPMENTINCENTERSTATENEWYORK

For drivers, I-81 through downtown Syracuse is the most dangerous stretch of the entire 855 mile highway. Serious accidents occur at more than three times the national average. It is also an economic liability, creating a swath of under-utilized and undevelopable property between a resurgent downtown and Central New Yorks strongest economic force, University Hill. Even property not in the existing right-of-way, but adjacent to it, has been hobbled by the barrier that the elevated viaduct represents to vibrant development. These properties could instantly be among the most valuable, tax-producing parcels in the entire county if we embrace a solution that reclaims and reactivates them. And there is ample evidence that we would make the most of that opportunity. Downtown is already the geographic, psychological, cultural and economic center of our regions with 37.4% of our regions total employment within 3 miles of Columbus Circle. And with more than a billion dollars of investment underway in Syracuse today, the economic potential is obvious. In recent years, communities like Milwaukee, Chattanooga, Portland, OR and San Francisco, have reconfigured outdated transportation systems and opened up valuable real estate to hundreds of millions of dollars of private development, creating vibrant new areas of commerce and revitalized neighborhoods. These projects have enhanced transportation access for businesses, commuters and tourists and ensured walkability for residents. There is absolutely no reason that we cannot achieve similar outcomes here. We cannot ignore that there is a very real price to pay for transformation. Budgetary limitations, political realities and community attitudes will undoubtedly affect the art of whats possible. And there will be tough choices in the end which will require thoughtful mitigation for the people and businesses most impacted by this decision.

But Central New York is no stranger to transformation. We have been indelibly impacted by decisions both within our control, and those that were not. This decision belongs to us. The opportunity of a lifetime is at hand.
Rob Simpson is president of the CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity. He also serves as a member of the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council.

572SOUTHSALINASTREETSYRACUSE,NY13202315.470.1800WWW.CENTERSTATECEO.COM LEADINGBUSINESSANDECONOMICDEVELOPMENTINCENTERSTATENEWYORK