Tear down Interstate 81

Back when we were doing Alive in CNY, one of my favorite topics was the removal of Interstate 81.

Not the whole thing – about a 3-mile chunk that runs from I-690 to I-481, dissecting the city and keeping the university area separate from downtown.

Anyone who wanted to stay on the highway through the city could do five miles on 690 and 481 instead of those three miles on I-81. I don't think an extra two-to-three minutes is two much to ask of people, to help reunite the city.

Also, I don't really think Syracuse should be in the business of making sure people can leave the city as fast as they can. Services like that should be reserved for Las Vegas.

This debate is getting renewed, now that Upstate Medical Center (a teaching hospital affiliated with the SUNY system) has said they can't expand with the highway there.

Syracuse University Chancellor Nancy Cantor has also said she'd like to see it taken down.

This latest is causing a lot of stir over at Sean Kirst's blog. Ellen over at NYCO also weighs in.