Last month, Joseph Boardman, Commissioner of New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and Assemblyman Charles Nesbitt met with the members of the Westside Economic Development Council (WEST) to discuss the need for the further extension of Route 531. The purpose of the meeting was to openly discuss funding the extension and the issues surrounding the non-funded status on the Genesee Transportation Council (GTC) five-year plan.

WEST presented information on how economic growth in the corridor from Western Monroe, Orleans and Eastern Niagara County depends on the timely completion of this westerly extension. Assemblyman Nesbitt pointed out that the towns and villages along the Erie Canal corridor have an underused infrastructure of utilities, water, land for development and the labor force necessary for economic growth. Currently the east-west route for trade between Rochester and Canada is Route 104 or 31. Truck travel on these roads goes through towns, villages and stop signals, resulting in lost time, additional costs, and pollution while trucks are idling. Don Kennedy, Executive Director of Orleans County IDA, and John Simon, Executive Director of the Niagara County IDA, described their respective industrial parks and the need for the continued east-west extension. The extension of Route 531 beyond Brockport, and in the future into Orleans and Niagara Counties, is the missing link to make economic growth a reality for the Western New York region. Commissioner Boardman acknowledged the group's frustration with the number of years this area has waited for this project to be completed. He pointed out that there is competition for transportation dollars in this region, as well as throughout the state. Many of the NYS DOT's dollars are allocated to much-needed bridge and road repair as opposed to new construction. NYS DOT's biggest challenge is to continually prioritize and coordinate the building needs for the entire region as well as the state.

WEST is committed to continue working with state and federal elected officials, GTC and NYS DOT to find means to obtain the necessary funding to begin the project. The group is planning to schedule a Route 531 Summit in September to present information to elected officials and the business community.