County Executive Jack Doyle has announced the Preliminary Initial Findings Report on the proposed Thruway Interchange 46A project in the Town of Chili. Based on this initial report, the thruway exit project will not move forward due to limited economic development potential.

"From the very beginning of this process, our intent has been to look at the potential a new thruway exit would have on increased economic development in western Monroe County," said Doyle. "The idea of a thruway exit in the Town of Chili has been discussed informally for decades and now we have looked at this concept, once and for all, in a quantitative and methodical manner. We now have the facts and definitely can say that a thruway exit is not economically feasible."

While the report found that a thruway exit would have localized economic development potential, it noted that overall economic development in the targeted area of western Monroe County is limited by a lack of infrastructure. This lack of infrastructure (sewers, other public utilities, and adequate transportation corridors) could be overcome, but would require significant public or private investment. The cost of the investment needed to bring adequate economic development opportunities would mitigate any possible benefits of the exit.

Since the feasibility of an interchange in Chili was first discussed, Rochester Technology Park, on the old Elmgrove site in Gates, has become another important factor impacting the proposed exit. Rochester Technology Park offers existing infrastructure, excellent access to transit corridors, several million square feet of ready-to-use manufacturing space and has been aggressively marketed for economic development. The continued development of this site, only a few miles to the east of the proposed exit, would further inhibit any possible benefits from a thruway exit in Chili.

Another factor limiting the potential of the exit is land use. Land use immediately adjacent to the proposed interchange is predominantly agricultural and is zoned accordingly. In fact, most of the land surrounding the proposed exit site is contained within an Agricultural District.

According to the report, the construction of the proposed exit would increase development pressure on these agricultural lands with "highway-oriented" uses (auto, truck and travel). While these types of development are necessary, they do not represent the quality of economic development initiatives sought as part of the proposed exit.

The report identifies the area most conducive for future economic development in the Town of Chili as located in the northern portion of town -- north of the existing Union Street/I-490 interchange. The construction of the proposed exit would not positively impact development in this area, which already benefits from existing infrastructure, available land, appropriate zoning and town planning perspectives.

Cost was another significant factor outlined in the report. Contrary to previous estimates of approximately $6 million for construction of the Chili exit, the projected costs were identified as approximately $18 million. This expanded figure would include the construction of a full toll plaza and necessary flyover bridge. The identified costs are far outside the initial budget projections for the proposed exit and would mean that funding would need to be diverted from other projects to move forward with an exit in Chili - contrary to the intent of the exit concept.