I am pleased the federal government has recognized the potential benefits of our I-86 plan and approved its designation.
Many travelers use maps which feature the Interstate system.
In fact, some maps show only interstates. I thank Governor Pataki for acting quickly once we authorized the designation in Congress, and I look forward to continued progress in the eastern portions which remain to be upgraded. The designation of Route 17 as I-86 is consistent with the provisions in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. In the recently enacted federal transportation bill, Senators Moynihan and D'Amato, as well as Congressmen Houghton, Solomon and Boehlert, included a provision that enabled the state to seek interstate status for Route 17. Route 17 serves the cities of Jamestown, Salamanca, Olean, Hornell, Corning, Elmira, Binghamton and Middletown as it traverses the Southern Tier of New York state.