For Immediate Release: August 5, 2011
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Relations | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
RAY BROOK, NY - The Adirondack Park Agency issued a non-jurisdictional determination on July 22, 2011 for underground segments of a regional fiber optic network installation project which includes the Adirondack-Champlain Telemedicine Information Network (ACTION) project. ACTION is a 9.8 million dollar project to develop a long-term leased 239 mile telemedicine network that will link 48 medical facilities in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Warren, Saratoga, Washington and Rensselaer counties.
The Development Authority of the North Country is managing and constructing Segment 10 of this project which stretches from Gouverneur in St. Lawrence County to Elizabethtown in Essex County. The implementation of state of the art infrastructure will significantly improve communication capabilities, expand services and reduce costs for healthcare providers.
APA Executive Director Terry Martino said, "Agency staff is coordinating closely with the Development Authority of the North Country to ensure this critically important project moves forward in an expeditious manner. The Agency is committed to the continued expansion of telecommunication and broadband technologies inside the Park. Our past successes prove it is possible to implement 21st century technologies without adversely impacting the unique natural resources of the Adirondack Park."
The Agency determined no permits or variances are required for the installation of approximately 15 miles of sub-surface fiber lines. During this phase of the project, installation will occur within New York State Department of Transportation Right-of-Ways in four areas of the Adirondack Park. The Development Authority will install fiber optics lines along State Route 3 between Cranberry Lake and Seveys Corners, along State Route 86 between Ray Brook and Lake Placid and along two sections of State Route 73 between Lake Placid and Keene.
The project is expected to have an immediate positive impact on economic growth, job creation and quality of life for residents of the Adirondack Park. The ACTION network will result in high speed connectivity between North Country medical facilities. Some of the medical facilities included in the ACTION network are the Adirondack Medical Center, Mountain Health Center in Keene, Tupper Lake Clinics, Lake Placid Clinics and the High Peaks Health Center in Wilmington.
The mission of the Adirondack Park Agency is to protect the public and private resources of the Adirondack Park through the exercise of the powers and duties of the Agency as provided by law. For more information, call the APA at (518) 891-4050 or visit www.apa.state.ny.us.
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