Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) hosted a third town hall for community members to voice their opinions on the future of Interstate 81’s viaduct that runs through Syracuse on Tuesday evening.

Nearly 200 people packed the Liverpool Middle School cafeteria supporting various options — among them a $1.3 billion community grid, a $1.7 billion reconstruction of the current highway viaduct and a $4.5 billion hybrid tunnel-grid concept.

Katko has yet to endorse a specific option for the divisive issue that has been debated for more than a decade, and has previously said that he will make a decision once more information on the options was released.

Katko on Tuesday said he would like more direct comparisons among the three options. The New York State Department of Transportation has yet to release its Draft Environmental Impact Statement, which Katko said he thought would be released by the time of the town hall.

“We have anecdotal information, but we don’t have one central source,” Katko said during the panel.

Liverpool resident Nick Ciotti said he wouldn’t mind dealing with the estimated four extra minutes added to his commute into Syracuse, if the community grid was built.

“If you’re for the viaduct, think about the message you’re sending to the rest of the country,” Ciotti said. “We (would) say, ‘Hey, we’re Syracuse and central New York. We’re willing to knock down 35 buildings just so we can rebuild a highway so people can drive through our city as fast as possible.’”

The community grid would give better access to and from the city, Ciotti said.

Pompey resident Phil Dilmore advocated for a tunnel-grid hybrid. Corey Henry | Staff Photographer

Another Liverpool resident who said he lives half of a mile from Liverpool also advocated for the community grid, citing the grid’s low-price tag compared to the other options.

“We have to understand that it’s not just about the city of Syracuse,” Katko said shortly after. “It’s positively a regional thing.”

Barry Gordon, who said he has lived in Onondaga County since 1969, said the grid is the only option that would provide a better life for residents who were hurt by the construction of the current viaduct that splits the city.

The construction of I-81 split the 15th ward, a historically African American neighborhood, and led to increased segregation of the city both racially and by socioeconomic status.

“Let’s not make the same sort of mistake again by perpetuating an unworkable and unfair situation,” Gordon said.

City and county residents have long been divided on the future of the aging viaduct. Mayor Ben Walsh and several Common Councilors publicly supported the grid, while both theOnondaga County Supervisors’ and Mayors’ associations endorsed a hybrid tunnel-grid option.

Through this, Katko said he wants more “data-driven” comparisons to make a decision.

Clay resident Ron Panetta said he travels through the city of Syracuse almost every day. Corey Henry | Staff Photographer

Several employees and residents from the town of Salina stressed the economic benefits the intersection between I-81 and the Interstate 90 thruway give to Salina.

Missy Hughes, one of two employees from a group of four hotels near the intersection of I-81 and the Interstate 90 thruway, said the hotels’ convenient location right off of the highway has a strong selling point for customers she speaks with daily.

Jacqui Paikan, a second representative from the group of hotels, said that 95 percent of their customers arrive using their own vehicles, and 70 percent use I-81 to get to their business.

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“If we do change the route of 81, our occupancy will go down,” Paikan said. “And we’re going to have to cut payroll. We’re going to have to cut hours.”

Later in the panel, Salina Councilor Jim Magnarelli said there were three sets of ramps that go through Salina from I-81. He said the tax revenue from the businesses near I-81 exits in Salina is upward of $693,000.

If I-81 traffic was rerouted from this area, the town could see as much as a 50 percent decline in market value, Magnarelli said.

“I understand that whatever option is chosen will come with resounding disapproval from at least half of our community,” Magnarelli said. “However, making a decision now that does not take into account all of the current economic concerns of the entire area, especially those areas most closely impacted by the option chosen, in my opinion, would not be rational.”

Published on February 19, 2019 at 11:53 pm

Contact Gabe: gkstern@syr.edu | @gabestern326