New Analysis Says Future Traffic & Development Growth Warrants Construction of Third Lane on Route 17
NEW HAMPTON—A newly released traffic analysis of the New York State Route 17 corridor concludes that significant traffic and commercial development growth in the coming years validates the critical need for the construction of a third travel lane in each direction between Exits 103 (Monticello, Sullivan County) and 131 (Woodbury, Orange County).
The NYS Route 17 Corridor Study conducted by Valhalla, NY-based Colliers Engineering and Design, underscores the importance of upgrading the corridor to accommodate existing and future traffic volumes and support the region’s continued economic growth.
The analysis projects substantial traffic growth in the corridor over the next 30 years, due both to proposed development and long-term population trends. The study notes that weekday peak-hour congestion on Route 17 stems from heavy commuter volume, while weekend backups are frequently caused by recreational traffic bound for the Catskills and other western destinations. These recurring slowdowns have also led to spillover congestion on nearby state and local roads. The report concludes that a general-use third lane in each direction would significantly improve traffic flow during both weekday peak hours and weekend travel surges. In preparing the NYS Route 17 Corridor Study, Colliers analyzed both current and projected traffic conditions based on anticipated development and long-term regional growth.
The NYS Route 17 Corridor Study was commissioned by Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative (ELEC) Local 825 and 17-Forward-86, a broad-based coalition advocating for improved safety and mobility on Route 17. For more than seven years, 17-Forward-86 has worked to advance long-needed mobility improvements on Route 17 to ensure the safety, sustainability, and prosperity of the Hudson Valley and Sullivan Catskills that received a commitment of $1 billion in funding by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“The report does not contain any surprises and simply reiterates the findings of previous DOT studies—that there is a clear need for the highway enhancement project, as the current infrastructure does not have the capacity to handle the current traffic volume,” said Daniel Ortega, a founding member of 17-Forward-86 and the Community Affairs Chief for ELEC Local 825. “This report will provide additional engineering details that the New York State Department of Transportation can use to further support the project.”
The “New York State Route 17 Mobility & Access Improvements Project” is currently in the draft environmental impact (DEIS) stage. NYSDOT is expected to release the draft environmental impact statement sometime this winter, with a public hearing on the DEIS slated shortly thereafter, which will be followed by a 45-day DEIS comment period.
The plan would then be subject to further review by NYSDOT with the issuance of a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) and a Record of Decision by the Federal Highway Administration rendered in the spring of 2026.
The study comes at a pivotal moment as NYSDOT and the Federal Highway Administration prepare to release a Draft Environmental Impact Statement. 17-Forward-86 urges that the full three-lane expansion from Harriman to Sullivan County be advanced now, calling it a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to invest in a corridor vital to the region’s quality of life, economic resilience, and long-term connectivity.
The third lane is a critical variable companies are weighing as they evaluate location options in the Hudson Valley, 17-Forward 86 officials stated. They point to Garonit Pharmaceutical, a global manufacturer of antiseptic products and health care solutions, which announced recently it will build a 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in New Hampton in Orange County as evidence of the economic development momentum that exists in the area.
“The data clearly show that the addition of a third travel lane in each direction is not just beneficial — it’s necessary to accommodate projected traffic volumes and ensure the long-term mobility of this vital corridor,” said Richard G. D'Andrea, P.E., PTOE, at Colliers, who prepared the study. “At a minimum, we recommend that new lanes be added from Exit 131 west to Exit 119, where the highest traffic increases are expected. Extending the improvements further west to Exit 103 would provide even greater long-term benefit, supporting regional growth and allowing for a more efficient, continuous construction approach that minimizes disruption to the traveling public.”
In its conclusion, Colliers stated: “As identified by the analysis, the provision of an additional travel lane in each direction will significantly improve traffic flow conditions along the corridor, accommodating the anticipated future traffic volumes projected along the roadway. It should be noted that it is our opinion that at a minimum, the additional lanes should be provided from beginning at Exit 131, continuing west to at least the Exit 119 interchange, to provide the additional travel lanes in the areas of the greatest projected corridor traffic volumes.”
Colliers added, “West of Exit 119/Exit 120, the corridor traffic volumes decreased to a point that an additional lane may not be warranted in the near term. However, providing the additional lanes further west to Exit 103 would further support the anticipated development and continued growth of the Sullivan County region. It would also ensure that work along NYS Route 17 can be completed in a continuous manner, rather than in a phased or segmented approach, thereby limiting disruptions to the traveling public that may be caused by construction.”
