Relates to the Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway

Summary of specific provisions

Adds a new sentence at the end of para- graph (j-9) Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway to subdivision 1 of Section 349-dd of the Highway Law including the "Alternate Route" to the existing Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway as a component of the New York State Scenic Byways System.

Existing law

§349-dd, subdivision 1 of the Highway Law which enumerates the components of the New York State Scenic Byways System.

Prior legislative history

This is a new bill.

Statement in support

On October 25, 2005, the New York State Scenic Byways Advisory Board, acting upon the nomination of the Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway Steering Committee, recommended the designation of the Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway as a New York State Scenic Byway. Designation of the Alternative Route is consistent with the vision, goals and plans of the Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway and was anticipated as a future action in the byways Corridor Management Plan and nominating documentation. For the Alternate Route to be added as part of the Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway, and to be formally desig- nated and thus included in the New York State Scenic Byways System, legislation is needed.

The 5.8 mile Alternate Route bisects the existing Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway corridor and follows portions of United States Route 44 and New York State Route 55 in the Town of Gardiner. The alternate route is entirely within Ulster County and links the historic hamlet of Gardiner, with its tourism accommodations, in the Town of Gardiner with the other communities along the Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway.

The Shawangunk Mountains Regional Partnership is an inter-municipal partnership of the 11 byway communities - the Towns of Crawford, Gardi- ner, Marbletown, Montgomery, New Paltz, Rochester, Rosendale, Shawan- gunk, Wawarsing, and the Villages of Ellenville and New Paltz -and serves as the management organization for the Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway. The Byway was designated on September 13, 2006 by amend- ment to the highway law of Chapter 666 of the Laws of 2006. The Corridor Management Plan (CMP) for the byway, approved by the New York State Scenic Byways Advisory Board on October 25, 2005, documents the scenic, natural, recreational and historic resources of the Shawangunk Mountains Region and describes the statewide significance of the resources in this region of 134,000 acres. The CMP also outlines the individual plans for

economic development, improved transportation and resource preservation to be implemented by the partnership for the region.

As stated in the Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan, Section 9, Transportation Plan, "When completed, the Town of Gardiner Comprehensive Plan may indicate the desirability of a Byway spur west along US 44/NY 55. If so, we will apply to amend our desig- nation to include this". The Comprehensive Plan passed by the Town of Gardiner indicates that the Town will "continue to participate in the Scenic Byways Program to promote tourism in the Town of Gardiner" and that "Town policies should recognize and support tourism as an important part of the local economy". In January, 2007, the Executive Committee of the Shawangunk Mountains Regional Partnership agreed to invite the Town of Gardiner to consider a resolution in support of including the Alter- nate Route in the Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway designation. The Gardiner Town Board passed unanimously such a resolution on February 13, 2007. The Shawangunk Mountains Regional Partnership reaffirmed their endorsement of this application by unanimous affirmative vote on June 6, 2008.

The addition of the Alternate Route, US 44/NY55, connecting New York Route 299 with New York Route 208 at Ireland Corners, and passing through the hamlet of Gardiner, will result in greater participation by the Town of Gardiner in the activities and programs of the Byway and those of the Shawangunk Mountains Regional Partnership because this segment passes through the historic main business section of the town, the hamlet of Gardiner. The Alternate Route will help reduce traffic congestion from the mountains to the NYS Thruway on Route 299 by indi- cation the possibility of continuing along US 44/NY 55 to points south. Roadway signage for this addition to the byway will clearly note it as an "Alternate" Byway Route, consistent with the approach taken with signing of other Byways that have "alternate" routes. Byway interpretive materials will clearly denote the differences for the motorists in the alternate and primary routes.

Budget implications

This proposal has no fiscal implications for the State. However, it would allow the municipalities along the Alternate Route to the designated byway to be eligible for federal funding under the National Scenic Byways Program and Transportation Enhancements Program.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.