If THE SENATE if ! [ALBANY OFFICE eee District orfice { a1 CAPITOL, , STATE OFFICE BUILDING - ROOM 00 [ALBANY NEW YORK 17247 393 EASTWASHINGTON STREET PHONE 518-4553811 SYRACUSE. NEW YORK 13202 ‘ees PHONE 315-478-7652 etrancnysenate gov WEBSITE defrancsco nysenate gov DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER December 28, 2017 Honorable Andrew Cuomo Governor New York State Capitol Albany, New York 12224 Dear Governor Cuomo: Thank you for retaining WSP/Parsons Brinckerhof for an analysis of tunnel and other options for the reconstruction of Interstate 81 in its route through Syracuse. We are pleased to see confirmation that tunnel and hybrid options are alternative approaches to the renaissance of this critical Central New York artery. Interstate 81's coming transformation holds the key for the continued movernent of visitors, residents, workers, commerce and goods as well as the growth of our regional economy well into the future. The report is a good step forward. We are writing to urge you and the Department of Transportation to continue to thoroughly evaluate tunnel and/or hybrid alternatives and to include them in the DOT's Draft Environmental Impact Statement as the Department proceeds with its project development process. Very truly yours, John A. DeFrancisco Fred Akshar V4 50" Senate District 52"4 Senate District ! David J. Valesky Pamela Helming 53" Senate District ‘54 Senate District eJames Seward Patty Ritchie 51% Senate District 48" Senate District tS egrLl Mn Os Benth William B. Magnarelli William A. Barclay 129" Assembly District 120" Assembly District ORL Kiwy 0. hw Gary ‘inch Robert C. Oaks 126" Assembly District 1308 Assembly District Pamela Hunter 128" Assembly District JADIrd ce: Cathy Calhoun, Acting Commissioner, NYS DOT Matthew Driscoll, Executive Director NY Thruway Authority