The NYS DOT has canceled plans to study the potential widening of Route 17 in Orange and Sullivan counties because of budgetary constraints, according to a department spokeswoman. The agency had expected to hire a consultant to explore widening the highway from two lanes to three in each direction between Harriman and Monticello – a project that Sen. Charles Schumer has advocated since securing $1 million for such a study in 2005.

But after soliciting proposals and choosing a consultant, state officials decided to table the $2.1 million study because too little state and federal funding exists for “capacity expansion” projects such as adding lanes to Route 17, spokeswoman Deborah Rausch said.

(READ MORE: Times Herald Record)