Court decision forces Suffolk to take on new county routes

[dgolub]

There was recently a legal dispute between Suffolk County and the Town of Huntington over who has jurisdiction over the roads that were legally designated as county routes for funding purposes but never taken over by the county.  While they had been previously classified as town roads, the court ruled that the county is responsible for them.  This means that CR 5 and CR 9 now exist in Suffolk, and that CR 28, CR 35, and CR 4 are extended.

This case is interesting in that it raises the question of whether other towns will be asking Suffolk County--or other counties in the state--to take over maintenance of other roads with a similar legal status.

http://www.northshoreoflongisland.com/pdalpeditorial.lasso?-token.story=80761.112114
http://www.nycourts.gov/courts/ad2/calendar/webcal/decisions/2010/D28328.pdf

[Alps]

NJ has designated a boatload of state highways in the past that were never taken over, and gradually fell off the books. Entire highways disappeared that had been marked prior to 1953 because they're not state maintained. Imagine if the law applied to us, we'd suddenly have a new highway system.

[dgolub]

NJ has designated a boatload of state highways in the past that were never taken over, and gradually fell off the books. Entire highways disappeared that had been marked prior to 1953 because they're not state maintained. Imagine if the law applied to us, we'd suddenly have a new highway system.

Yeah, it remains to be seen how far-reaching the effects of the decisions will be.  The decision was dealt with the issue of county vs. town, not state vs. anyone else.  If it did apply to the state, then NYSDOT could be required to take over Woodhaven Boulevard and Cross Bay Boulevard in Queens, since they're listed in the state's Highway Law.

[NE2]

If it did apply to the state, then NYSDOT could be required to take over Woodhaven Boulevard and Cross Bay Boulevard in Queens, since they're listed in the state's Highway Law.

http://www.dot.ny.gov/regional-offices/region11/general-info/built-and-unbuilt-arterial-system
"As per the highway law, the City-owned mileage will be brought into State ownership as it is reconstructed to current standards."

[dgolub]

If it did apply to the state, then NYSDOT could be required to take over Woodhaven Boulevard and Cross Bay Boulevard in Queens, since they're listed in the state's Highway Law.

http://www.dot.ny.gov/regional-offices/region11/general-info/built-and-unbuilt-arterial-system
"As per the highway law, the City-owned mileage will be brought into State ownership as it is reconstructed to current standards."

I don't think there's any timetable set, though, so it could just keep on getting postponed forever.