A federal judge found New York has been illegally running part of the Thruway through Seneca Nation land, according to Spectrum News. Judge Michael Roemer said the 1950s easement bypassed federal approval, violating tribal land law.
Roughly three miles of the highway cross Seneca territory. If upheld by a district court, the ruling would force the state to renegotiate a valid easement.
The Seneca Nation says it’s also owed $4 billion in toll revenue, but the judge didn’t weigh in on that claim. The governor’s office declined to comment on the ongoing case.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].