Protecting Our Natural Heritage and Empowering Communities

Sept 24, 2024 Hurleyville, NY –  On September 19, 2024, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released the Route 17 Project Scoping Report, documenting the evaluation of preliminary concepts for further study. Upon first review, Catskill Mountainkeeper is appreciative that the Department of Transportation has begun to hear the concerns of our communities, and we share the state’s desire to improve safety conditions and create new economic opportunities along Route 17. However, we remain concerned that state officials are still considering a massive highway widening that would bring more traffic, increase air pollution and waste taxpayer monies. This alternative is environmentally and fiscally irresponsible and does not address community needs.

Catskill Mountainkeeper and our allies differ with the state’s approach to address safety and economic opportunities by increasing roadway capacity. We believe this approach is contradictory to our shared goals for the following reasons:

Click 'Read More' for the full release.

New Report Shows Major State Agencies Violate NY Climate Act

New York State – Today, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI) and the NY Renews Coalition released “Flouting the Law: Major State Agencies Are Ignoring New York’s Climate Mandates.” The report details how, on the fifth anniversary of the passage of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act), almost every state agency is ignoring the law's , including four of the state’s best-funded agencies, including the Departments of Health, Transportation, Education, and Development (Empire State Development). Catskill Mountainkeeper contributed to the report and its findings regarding the Department of Transportation's (NYSDOT) failure.

"In the face of the worsening climate crisis, New Yorkers deserve and demand that state agencies uphold our Climate Law and act in the best interest of our health, safety, and security. In the case of the Route 17 expansion project, should NYSDOT advance its current proposal--one that almost entirely impacts disadvantaged communities--the agency will be hampering New York's efforts to achieve climate justice, while further harming vulnerable towns and cities,” said Taylor Jaffe, Environmental Justice Coordinator of Catskill Mountainkeeper. “Catskill Mountainkeeper supports the thoughtful recommendations that emerge from this report and encourages NYSDOT and every state agency ‘to make the needed course corrections now.’" Click here to read the full press release.

On May 30, 2024 the ReThink 17 coalition submitted comments on the Route 17 Notice of Intent. In our comments, Mountainkeeper partnered with leaders across the region and the state to call on decisionmakers to a purpose and need statement and project that provides a more comprehensive vision for the corridor.

In particular, and in addition to providing safe, accessible and reliable transportation, this vision can: connect our communities, support smart, sustainable growth, meet climate mandates under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and Justice 40 initiatives, and encourage economic growth in the region.

This overall vision is also supported by specific recommendations. Click here to read more.