John Katko to hold 4 town hall meetings on future of Interstate 81

The elevated portion of Interstate 81 in Syracuse can be seen from the Upstate Medical University parking garage. The state plans to demolish the highway as it nears the end of its 50 years in service. Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com SYR
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WASHNGTON – U.S. Rep. John Katko plans to hold four town hall meetings across Central New York in February to encourage a community discussion about the future of Interstate 81 in Syracuse.

Katko, R-Camillus, is among a handful of public officials who declined to take a position on any of the proposals that involve demolishing the existing 1.4-mile stretch of elevated highway through the heart of Syracuse.

The third-term congressman said he will seek federal funding for the I-81 replacement plan that receives support from the community.

The first of the four town hall meetings will be 6 p.m. Monday (Feb. 4) in Auburn. The public meeting will be in the Community Room at Cayuga Community College, 197 Franklin St.

The discussion will be moderated by Steve Lynch, Cayuga County’s director of planning and economic development.

The second meeting will be 10 a.m. Feb. 9 (a Saturday) at DeWitt Town Hall, 5400 Butternut Drive, DeWitt. Town Councilor Kerry Mannion will serve as moderator.

Katko also plans to hold Interstate 81 town hall meetings in Syracuse and Salina later in February. The dates have not been determined.

In 2017, Katko was among six members of Congress from Upstate New York who urged Gov. Andrew Cuomo not to rule out the option of replacing the I-81 viaduct with a tunnel, simply based on the estimated cost of $4 billion or more.

The state is considering three general options for replacing the aging highway – a new viaduct, a street-level community grid and a tunnel. A study due early this year could recommend one of the options.

Katko said he wants to give Central New Yorkers a chance to offer their opinions before the state makes its final decision.

“Our community has a once-in-a-generation decision before us as we look to the future of Interstate 81,” Katko said.

He invited representatives from the state Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration to attend the four public meetings. The federal government has typically provided up to 90 percent of the funding for such interstate highway projects.

Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751

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