Research


Scope and Content Note

The series consists of correspondence and plans pertaining to design of highways by outside consulting firms that contracted with DOT to do projects prior to and after construction. Most project files are for highways, or plans for bridges, parking facilities, or other associated projects. Files may span ten years from the initial design contract to final project acceptance.

Records in the series are variously labeled as "preliminary project files," "highway project files," or "red files." Preliminary project files are arranged according to DOT region, date and county. Other files have a project identification number (or PIN).

13376-93: This accretion contains records relating to the design of interchanges and small sections of several highways in the state, particularly the Eastern Expressway in Monroe County, the Sunrise Highway in Suffolk County, and the Taconic State Parkway in Westchester County. Records pertain to the planning and design of improvements of the highways and include correspondence, project proposals and reports, maps, and environmental assessments. The majority of the records were produced by the DOT or by the department's various engineering consultants.

13376-94: This accretion consists of materials submitted by consultants and planning contractors to the Design Quality Assurance Bureau about a project involving the Eastern Expressway (I-490) - Outer Loop (NY/I-590) interchange area in Monroe County, New York. Records apparently span many years of project development. Included are project proposals, traffic studies, blueprints, design reports, and environmental assessments.

13376-99: This accretion includes a very large amount of preliminary project files, "red files," and standard project files. The "red files" include project correspondence with the consulting firm, public officials, and interested citizens about technical aspects of the project. They may contain considerable information about public response to the location of a proposed highway. A copy of the environmental impact statement (EIS) is included with the "red file."

Project files (or "PIN folders") also contain correspondence. Other types of information present include public meeting proceedings and hearing transcripts; aesthetic assessments; engineering computations and estimates; survey data; noise reports and barrier designs; drainage reports; air analysis; design reports; environmental assessment statements; and final project evaluations.

13376-19A: This accretion consists of highway design project-related records including draft and final project reports; environmental impact statements; cultural resource studies; revitalization studies; maps; project drawings in pencil or pen (original and some copies); field sketches; completed historical architectural survey forms; historical background information relating to construction or revitalization projects; mounted and unmounted project photographs and slides; project notes; technical advisory documents; NYSDOT, USDOT, and other publications, many of which pertain to industrial design standards and procedures; training and policies and procedure manuals; memorandums; correspondence; and a small quantity of project-related news clippings.

Unboxed project-related materials include NYSDOT and USDOT reference maps; marked-up copies of design blueprints; a partial set of 40 to 60 topographical drawings relating to an Adirondack Northway project in the Keeseville, Essex County area (Lewis to Poke-O-Moonshine Section, 1961-1965); design mock-ups and project photos mounted on foam core board; a shrink-wrapped (new/unopened) DOT design standards manual; and other items.