BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York State Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul was asked Friday about comments from Congressman Tom Reed on Thursday who called the condition of the I-90 through the Seneca Nation "deplorable," and put the state on written notice that the road is deficient and the state will be liable for any injury accidents.
Hochul acknowledged that she wants the road fixed and added, "the motorists who travel the thruway deserve better. We are working this out with the Seneca Nation to make sure we have access to a road that is going through their property."
A statement from the Seneca Nation of Indians on Thursday said, "The Seneca Nation has regularly approved resolutions that provide for routine maintenance of roadways that cross our territories, but the repair work needed on these roads goes far beyond routine maintenance."
In fact, the Seneca approved a Thruway request to perform routine maintenance on this section in May of 2017.
Hochul said Friday there has been a "log jam" in working out an agreement with the Senecas over access to the road, but said she hopes things are resolved very soon.
The Lieutenant Governor would not detail what she meant by "log jam" but the state and Seneca Nation continue to be at odds over $255 million dollars in casino payments that an arbitration panel ruled the Seneca Nation has to pay New York.
Hochul, however, referred to that dispute as separate and apart from the Thruway matter.
There are agreements which govern the type of maintenance work the Thruway can do on portions of the highway which traverse Seneca lands and which- if the work is more than 'routine'- do require the consent of the Seneca Nation.
Hochul indicated there are things along those lines that need to be worked out.
However, in light of the last part of the Seneca Nation statement above, it could mean that negotiations to allow for a fix, under existing agreements governing such matters, may now be more complex than what they once may have been.