Thruway exit meeting held in Newark

The first step in a long-awaited feasibility study for a possible Route 88 Thruway exit was held on November 10 at the Newark Middle school.

The study, funded by municipalities and the Genesee Regional Transportation, is being conducted by the firm of Flint, Allen, White and Radley, and a steering committee representing Wayne County, Ontario County, Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council, NYS Thruway Authority, NYS Department of Transportation, and the Lakeshore Environmental Action.

More than 100 business leaders and residents were present at the meeting. Also there were Newark Mayor Fred Pirelli, Phelps Mayor Dennis King, Phelps Town Supervisor Carmen Orlando, Arcadia Supervisor Dom Bartucca, and Arcadia Supervisor-elect, Joe DeSanto.

And, Newark Village Trustees Peter Blandino, Kurt Werts, and Norm VanDemortel, and Arcadia Councilman Mike Diamond.

Absent were Arcadia Councilmen Mike DeJohn, Gary Grant, and Brenda Westcott, and Newark Trustee John Palermo.

The meeting, the first of two, was held to provide a forum for the discussion of issues, concerns and opinions regarding the feasibility of the project.

'There are no foregone conclusions,' said John Flint, of Flint, Allen, White, and Radley. The study, expected to be complete by June 30, 2000, consists of two public meetings. Flint stressed that a new Thruway interchange was not being proposed at either of the meetings.

* Regional traffic needs
* Reasonable alternatives
* Operational Alternatives
* Access Connections
* Transportation and Land use plans
* Coordination of the Process

* Environmental Processing
* SEQRA
* MPO Coordination
* Interagency Review
* Public Participation

Area municipalities have gone on record as supporting a Route 88 exit, as have the Greater Newark Chamber of Commerce, Finger Lakes Community College, as well as leaders of industry. Robert Stanton, C.E.O of Refractron in Newark and a partner in Silver Hill Technology Park on Rt. 88 South, stressed the need for firms to be able to attract first-rate employees. Stanton mentioned quick access to airports, and other big city amenities as a draw to hiring employees who would purchase high-end homes in Newark. Said Stanton, 'All we are asking is access to Newark's Main Street.'

Daniel Hayes, President of Finger Lakes Community College, said that an exit on Rt. 88 would open up a 'new corridor of economic development.'

As with any issue, there are those who want things left alone. Nancy Casper, speaking on environmental concerns, asked everyone to consider the big picture. 'Why is growth better? We are on a blind path of destruction. Look at the simpler joys of life.' Roland Micklen, concerned with environmental issues such as global climate changes, suggested raising the gasoline tax to subsidize public transportation. Casper asked what defined quality of life and stressed that development of projects such as a Thruway exit would encourage urban sprawl and further fossil fuel usage.

Frank Zappia, lifetime Newark resident and Zappia Vending owner, asked the question: 'Do we have urban sprawl, or urban decay and death?'