2014-06-26-sdc-viaductheari.JPG

The final I-81 Scoping meeting was held at the Oncenter on June 26. Hundreds attended the informational meeting and several spoke on the project.

(Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannerelli@syracuse.com)

The Sept. 2 deadline is fast approaching for public comments on which Interstate 81 options the state Department of Transportation should study further, and which options aren't worthy of further study. This is known in government speak as "scoping,'' and ideas that don't make it past the scoping process are done for.

That explains the furious public lobbying from Destiny USA, which wants to preserve its direct line to the interstate, and from downtown developers, who see an opportunity to make better use of the prime real estate that currently resembles a concrete canyon through the city. Each group has put forward its own plan for inclusion in the final scoping document.

Meanwhile, DOT recommends six possibilities for further study. All are variations of a viaduct and a street-level boulevard. Tunnels and highways cut into the ground were deemed too expensive or unfeasible.

So, which ideas should move forward and which should hit a dead end? If you have thoughts about this, hurry up and send them to DOT; you can do it online from the I81opportunities.com home page.

If the editorial board were to send in comments for DOT and the public to consider while sorting through the I-81 possibilities, here's what we would say:

• So far, the voices of the business community have spoken the loudest about what they want for the future of I-81. Be sure to give the proper weight to the views of residents who also depend on the transportation grid, and who are less likely to express their opinions in public forums or through the formal comment process.

• Decide whether it's more important for motorists to drive into Syracuse or to drive through Syracuse. People who want to come here will find a way. The city's future may hinge less on what type of road we build and more about what else we can create that's worth getting off the interstate to see or do.

• Factor in the time it will take to build the various options. Fifty years ago, when the current road was built, construction lasted the better part of a decade. Whatever option is chosen, the current viaduct is likely to come down. How long will the city's residents and commuters have to put up with mess, detours and noise? The lives of the people and businesses adjoining construction hang in the balance.

• Speaking of time, let's take commuting time off the table as a consideration. This is not Los Angeles.

• Money is an issue. It's true the community will not directly bear the cost of this project, which will be paid for largely with federal and state money. However, it's irresponsible to suggest that cost doesn't matter. Transportation funding is not unlimited. And when you consider simply rehabbing the road would cost $800 million, and a tunnel could cost three or four times that, none of the options is cheap.

• Be ambitious. DOT's mandate is to build a safe road that gets people from point A to point B. The I-81 project has the potential to do so much more than that. It can change the complexion of the city through pleasing design, public amenities and integration of other forms of transportation, including walking and biking.

Each of these ideas plays an important role in preserving and improving the lifeblood of the community - both residential and business. In the end, I-81 is not just an artery. It's an aorta that can pump life into downtown Syracuse.