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I'm shocked by the poor condition of the southern tier expressway where it runs through the Indian Reservations. I've done some news research and discovered that it's quite controversial and the Indians have been fighting the state about it for decades.
That's no good excuse to have a roadway that's so dangerous. It has been single lane for over a year without any construction being done to it whatsoever. It's so bumpy, it's dangerous. They weren't even salting it during the last snow storm. I saw so many cars spinning out of control.
If the Indians are the ones who are causing this mess, it's sure not helping their image. For as long as that road is a disgusting mess, I won't stop at the casino or get off at an exit to go to their stores. It's terrible public relations.
NYS has been very slow to repair any western I86 sections but now the only still unrepaired section is thru the rez or Salamanca area. I think from the start I86 is considered low priority by NYS because the traffic is so little. Then when you add the rez situation it gets bad. First, NYS and the SNI (Seneca Nation) are in battle. The SNI has 3 casinos in WNY in a deal with NYS and the compact dictates that as long as there is no other certain gambling types within a specified area of WNY, the SNI gives a percentage of their revenue to NYS. Then NYS is to give a percentage of their take to the casino's local municipality (Salamanca, Niagara Falls, Buffalo). For ~3 years, the SNI has refused to pay NYS because of competing other nearby casinos, which violates the compact. The money that would have been given to NYS and then to the local municipalities is now in escrow (millions). I have yet to see any comment from NYS as to this violation, they've instead simply criticized the SNI for not paying. Currently this issue is under arbritation. As a result of this, the already distressed cities of Niagara Falls & Salamanca are burdened with the necessary local duties towards the casinos yet with no financial support... both have had to force layoffs and are severely struggling as a result.
That's not the last issue towards the condition of I86 in the rez. Incredibly, the SNI (aka Sopranos) requires to be paid from NYS a percentage of the costs to do the necessary repairs on I86!!
Both of these corrupt & irresponsible parties are playing public image games to garner public support to their side. Meanwhile the locals suffer as a result.
Thank you for such detailed information! Clearly this isn't going to be resolved in our lifetime.
I will need to find a better route to Vermont from Pittsburgh. When we went up last year, I thought it was temporary construction. When we returned this year, nothing had been done. This time the weather was bad, a snow storm from Lake Erie, and the road wasn't maintained.
Interesting you called SNI the Sopranos. I have never given Indian reservations a second thought, but my son warned me to not get pulled over by one of their Marshalls. I had no idea that I could be subjected to their law enforcement while driving on a US interstate.
I'm surprised SNI is responsible for maintaining a US interstate, especially since states own and are responsible for state roads that run through local governments. An interstate isn't really a local issue since people from all over the country use interstates. It's concerning when the battle makes it dangerous for innocent travelers.
“Bluntly, the lives of the residents of Cattaraugus County and those of the traveling public are being placed at risk by the actions taken, or not taken, by the New York State Department of Transportation,” Legislature Chairman Norman L. Marsh wrote to the governor. “While we are acutely aware of the ongoing disagreements between the state of New York and the Seneca Nation of Indians, the resulting situation created by this current iteration jeopardizes the public’s welfare and holds many uninvolved members of the public hostage to this dispute.
That quote from the Chairman explains exactly how I feel when driving that stretch of road.
I should clarify... when I mentioned that the SNI demands that NYS pay a percentage fee to the SNI for I86 road repair, I mean this... this "fee" which is big money, is not for the SNI to repair the road themselves. The fee is a percentage of the cost for NYS to repair the road. The SNI wants to be paid for NYS to pay & repair reservation road... it's mind boggling.
I should clarify... when I mentioned that the SNI demands that NYS pay a percentage fee to the SNI for I86 road repair, I mean this... this "fee" which is big money, is not for the SNI to repair the road themselves. The fee is a percentage of the cost for NYS to repair the road. The SNI wants to be paid for NYS to pay & repair reservation road... it's mind boggling.
Thanks for clarifying. That is strange. It's like a SNI tax on the percentage of the cost for NYS to repair I86 through their territory.
Regardless, NYS is putting people's lives at risk. They should repair the interstate since it's their legal responsibility and worry about payment after the courts make a decision. Even if the courts rule in favor of SNI, NYS still has an interstate to maintain regardless of its problems with SNI. If someone gets hurt, NYS is in trouble, especially since that letter was sent to the Govenor. Maybe they don't realize how dangerous that stretch of road is, but that's no excuse when they have been told.
I couldn't agree more. I had figured that it would take an injury or death to get NYS to do the responsible thing rather than play these games with the SNI.
Thank you for such detailed information! Clearly this isn't going to be resolved in our lifetime.
I will need to find a better route to Vermont from Pittsburgh. When we went up last year, I thought it was temporary construction. When we returned this year, nothing had been done. This time the weather was bad, a snow storm from Lake Erie, and the road wasn't maintained.
Interesting you called SNI the Sopranos. I have never given Indian reservations a second thought, but my son warned me to not get pulled over by one of their Marshalls. I had no idea that I could be subjected to their law enforcement while driving on a US interstate.
I'm surprised SNI is responsible for maintaining a US interstate, especially since states own and are responsible for state roads that run through local governments. An interstate isn't really a local issue since people from all over the country use interstates. It's concerning when the battle makes it dangerous for innocent travelers.
What about I-80 East, to I-81 North to I-88 to I-87, then taking whatever route into Vermont?
What about I-80 East, to I-81 North to I-88 to I-87, then taking whatever route into Vermont?
Yeah, I almost took that route this year because of the snow storm. I-80 and I-76 are both stressful for me. All of the tractor trailers are on I-80 because it's free, and I hate the narrowness of I-76 because jersey barriers make me tense.
I opted for the southern tier because it's a nicer road than I-80, except the in part in the indian reservation. I've taken the northern tier back to Pittsburgh from Vermont by accident. It's also a nice interstate, but I usually make this trip in late November or early December so snow is a concern.
When I go back to Vermont in the spring, I'll either take the northern tier or I might take the I-80 and then I-84 to I-87 because I-84 goes through the Poconos simply and I've never seen the Poconos. It depends. I don't recall indian reservation road problems on the northern tier. Is my memory correct?
ETA, I just looked on google map and the northern tier is actually a faster route by 40 minutes. That defies directional logic!
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