Acknowledgements

Staff of three organizations jointly conducted this study. The lead organization was the Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board (STWRPDB), under whose auspices this report was completed. Using internal funding of the STWRPDB, staff including Don Rychnowski (Executive Director) and Paul Miller collected primary data concerning development impacts.

The study was completed with the assistance of contractors funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) "Environment and Planning Technical Support" contract (DTFH61-98-00107, TO-24). This contract task order was directed by Martin Weiss of FHWA, and funded to Cambridge Systematics, Inc. as prime contractor and Economic Development Research Group, Inc. as subcontractor for work with regional and state agencies in developing prototype studies of the economic impact of highway improvements.

Glen Weisbrod of Economic Development Research Group (EDRG) directed the overall study design and analysis process, and was assisted by Manisha Gupta of EDRG, who evaluated economic development patterns in the region. Brian Ten Siethof and Chris Porter of Cambridge Systematics (CS) analyzed survey data and also collected data for a comparison area. John Suhrbier of CS oversaw the contract with FHWA.

The study team is indebted to a large number of local, state and county officials, as well as representatives of local business (chamber of commerce) organizations, which participated in interviews and provided local information on property values, development and plans.