BUFFALO, N.Y. — In letters sent back and forth this week, both the New York State Thruway Authority and the Seneca Nation of Indians indicated they're moving forward with negotiations to begin much-needed repairs to the stretch of Interstate 90 that goes through the Cattaraugus Reservation.
2 On Your Side obtained a letter from the Seneca Nation to the director of the New York State Thruway Authority, dated September 16. It requests a detailed plan from the state on how they would fix the road as well as a meeting with the Seneca Nation Transportation Department to discuss the timeline and project details.
"If the Thruway Authority is ready to address the glaring need for repairs in an expedient and cooperative way... the Seneca Nation is ready to have that important dialogue," the letter reads.
On September 18, Thruway Executive Director Matthew Driscoll responded with a Project Specific Agreement (PSA), detailing the work and asking the Senecas to sign off.
"The Thruway plans to begin work to improve roadway conditions as soon as you give permission," Driscoll said.
The plan -- according to the letter obtained by 2 On Your Side -- is to initially concentrate on fixing the parts of the road that are most deteriorated.
"A full depth replacement project will follow," the letter says. Guardrails would also be replaced, according to the plan.
Driscoll said the Thruway hopes to have all of the work complete within 8 to 10 weeks if the weather allows.
Sources on both sides of the issue have indicated to 2 On Your Side that this exchange of letters is a positive step forward that could possibly lead to construction starting soon.
2 On Your Side has also confirmed that some state equipment has been moved from Central New York to Western New York so that it can be ready as soon as the project gets all the final approvals.
There has long been agreement from both sides that repairs were needed to the Thruway on the reservation. How to get the road fixed has been the sticking point.
The State and the Senecas have been at odds for years over how the road should be repaired. As a result, the road's condition has continued to worsen, and in spots, the suggested speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph.
Recently, Rep. Tom Reed, a Republican who represents the Southern Tier, has tried to intervene. He called on the FBI to investigate Governor Andrew Cuomo's role in the delayed work.
On Friday -- a day after he collapsed in Washington, D.C. due to an undiagnosed case of pneumonia -- Reed called on both sides to meet with him in Irving on Monday to come to a final agreement.
The governor's office said Reed has not been helpful in the negotiations.
“The situation is simple: Once the Senecas give the state permission -- which the state has been seeking for the last 5 years -- road repairs will begin the very next day," said Senior Advisor to the Governor Rich Azzopardi. "The Nation has the Thruway’s proposed plan and we urge them to approve it so that we can quickly begin this critical work. Reed should knock off the petty pandering, but given his track record, we won’t hold our breath.”