WASHINGTON – It has been five years since US Senator Charles Schumer secured $1 million to study widening Route 17 from Harriman to Monticello from two lanes in each direction to three lanes. The senator Thursday accused the New York Transportation Department of sitting on the money and doing nothing to study the widening.

The lack of progress, even in beginning a study, shows that Route 17 “is not a priority” for the state, Schumer said.

He called on NYSDOT to “get started immediately” and provide a timetable for completion of the project.

Route 17 is “a crucial artery” connecting New York City with the Hudson Valley, the Southern Tier and western New York, Schumer said. “As the tourism economy expands and communities in Orange and Sullivan counties grow, it is essential that we have the roads and infrastructure to handle an ever increasing number of residents and visitors,” he said.

Work has recently been completed in the Town of Wallkill stretch of the highway to make it compatible for the federal highway system since Route 17, now a New York highway, will be converted to Interstate 86.