New York State Route 70
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 70 (NY 70) is a short state highway in the western portion
of New York
in the United States. It travels through three different counties in just 18.01 miles (28.98 km) and is the primary road to and from the village of Canaseraga
. The northern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 436
in the Livingston County
town of Portage. Its southern terminus is at a junction with NY 36
in the Steuben County
town of Dansville
. Although NY 70 is signed north–south, it follows a more southeast–northwest alignment and is considered an east–west route by the New York State Department of Transportation
(NYSDOT). The portion of the route between Dalton and Canaseraga parallels both Canaseraga Creek and the Norfolk Southern Railway
's Southern Tier Line
.
When the route was assigned as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, it continued southeast from Canaseraga to Avoca
by way of modern NY 961F
and Steuben County's County Route 70A (CR 70A). Additionally, it briefly extended west from Garwoods to Old State Road in Granger
. The route was cut back to Garwoods ca. 1939 and to Arkport ca. 1974. By 1977, NY 70 was reconfigured to extend from Portage to a junction east of Canaseraga, replacing part of NY 408
and all of New York State Route 70A and New York State Route 351. Reference marker
s for all three routes are still posted along NY 70.
as an east–west route, reflecting the route's more east–west than north–south alignment. As such, the route officially begins at an intersection with NY 436
in the town of Portage, located in southwestern Livingston County
. It initially heads southward across open fields and past small wooded areas before curving to the east about 1 miles (1.6 km) later. The route continues in this direction for another 2 miles (3.2 km) to the town of Nunda
and the hamlet of Dalton, where it connects to the southern terminus of NY 408
.
From Dalton southeast to Canaseraga
, NY 70 closely parallels the Norfolk Southern Railway
's Southern Tier Line
as both the road and the rail line run along the base of a valley surrounding Canaseraga Creek, the source of which is located roughly 3 miles (5 km) east of Dalton. The valley takes the route and the railroad southeastward into Allegany County
, where they both pass through the railside hamlets of Swain (in the town of Grove
) and Garwoods (Burns
). East of Garwoods, the creek curves to follow a more easterly track, and the valley, NY 70, and the Southern Tier Line all turn to match. Just over 2 miles (3.2 km) from Garwoods is the creekside village of Canaseraga, a stark departure from the isolated, undeveloped areas that NY 70 serves west of this point.
The open areas return east of the community, where it intersects NY 961F
, a rare signed reference route. At this point, the Southern Tier Line heads south to follow NY 961F toward Hornell
and Canaseraga Creek turns north toward the Livingston County village of Dansville
; however, NY 70 continues eastward toward the Steuben County
line. Past NY 961F, NY 70 initially heads generally eastward across a wide north–south gully that carries NY 36
from Hornell to Dansville. About 1 miles (1.6 km) from the reference route, NY 70 turns sharply to the northeast, following this alignment into Steuben County and its town of Dansville
. The route ends just 0.24 mile (0.3862416 km) into the county at an intersection with NY 36 near the eastern edge of the valley.
(now Old State Road) in Granger
to NY 2 (now NY 415
) south of Avoca
via the Grove
hamlet of Garwoods, Canaseraga
, Arkport
, and Hornell
. From Garwoods to Canaseraga, NY 70 followed its modern routing; east of Canaseraga, NY 70 used modern NY 961F
, NY 36
, and Big Creek Road (Steuben County's CR 70A). West of Garwoods, NY 70 followed Ames Nichols and Swain Roads to Spencer Worden Road, from where the route was to continue west to NY 63 by way of an extension of Swain Road. The portion of NY 70 between Garwoods and Avoca was previously part of NY 38 from the mid-1920s to the 1930 renumbering.
Most of what later became NY 70 was given a route designation at some point in the early 1930s. In the 1930 renumbering, the portion of current NY 70 between NY 63
(now NY 408
) in Dalton and the then-western terminus of NY 70 in Garwoods was designated as part of NY 63A. By the following year, the remainder of what is now NY 70 west to NY 39
(modern NY 436
) was designated as NY 351 while the short east–west connector between Canaseraga and Dansville
was assigned NY 70A. The extension of Swain Road never materialized; as a result, NY 70 was cut back to its junction with NY 63A (now Allegany County's CR 15B) in Garwoods ca. 1939. In the early 1940s, NY 63 was rerouted south of Mount Morris and replaced with NY 408
between Scotts Corners (north of Hinsdale
) and Mount Morris. As part of the switch, NY 63A was redesignated as NY 408A. NY 408 was rerouted between Angelica
and Dalton to follow NY 408A ca. 1948.
NY 70 remained unchanged until the 1970s when the route was reconfigured into its modern alignment through a series of changes. Ca. 1974, NY 70 was truncated westward to Arkport following the completion of the Southern Tier Expressway between Hornell and Avoca. By 1977, NY 408 was truncated truncated to Dalton on its southern end. The Dalton–Garwoods segment of NY 408's former routing and all of NY 351 became a western extension of NY 70. The route was also realigned on its east end by this time to follow the routing of NY 70A east of Canaseraga. Reference marker
s for NY 70A, NY 351, and NY 408 still exist on the sections of NY 70 that once carried those designations.
Western New York
Western New York is the westernmost region of the state of New York. It includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, as well as the outlying rural areas of the Great Lakes lowlands, the Genesee Valley, and the Southern Tier. Some historians, scholars and others...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the United States. It travels through three different counties in just 18.01 miles (28.98 km) and is the primary road to and from the village of Canaseraga
Canaseraga, New York
Canaseraga is a village in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 594 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from a creek that flows past the village, which is reportedly a native term for "lying among milkweeds."...
. The northern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 436
New York State Route 436
New York State Route 436 is an east–west state highway located in the western portion of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 39 in the Pike hamlet of Lamont to a junction with NY 36 in the village of Dansville...
in the Livingston County
Livingston County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 64,328 people, 22,150 households, and 15,349 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 24,023 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
town of Portage. Its southern terminus is at a junction with NY 36
New York State Route 36
New York State Route 36 is a north–south state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The highway extends for from the Pennsylvania state line at Troupsburg, Steuben County northward to Ogden, Monroe County, where it ends at an intersection with NY 31...
in the Steuben County
Steuben County, New York
Steuben County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 98,990. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a German general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same...
town of Dansville
Dansville, Steuben County, New York
Dansville is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States, not to be confused with the nearby village of Dansville in Livingston County. The population was 1,977 at the 2000 census...
. Although NY 70 is signed north–south, it follows a more southeast–northwest alignment and is considered an east–west route by the New York State Department of Transportation
New York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
(NYSDOT). The portion of the route between Dalton and Canaseraga parallels both Canaseraga Creek and the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
's Southern Tier Line
Southern Tier Line
The Southern Tier Line is a railroad line owned and operated by the Norfolk Southern Railway in the U.S. states of New York and Pennsylvania. The line runs from Suffern, New York northwest to Buffalo, New York mostly along a former Erie Railroad line. From Suffern to Sparrowbush along which...
.
When the route was assigned as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, it continued southeast from Canaseraga to Avoca
Avoca (village), New York
Avoca is a village located in the Town of Avoca in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 1,008 at the 2000 census.The Village of Avoca is located in the eastern part of the town, northwest of Bath, New York.- History :...
by way of modern NY 961F
New York State Route 961F
New York State Route 961F is a reference route in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 70 east of the Steuben County village of Canaseraga to a junction with NY 36 in the Allegany County village of Arkport...
and Steuben County's County Route 70A (CR 70A). Additionally, it briefly extended west from Garwoods to Old State Road in Granger
Granger, New York
Granger is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 577 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Francis Granger, Postmaster General....
. The route was cut back to Garwoods ca. 1939 and to Arkport ca. 1974. By 1977, NY 70 was reconfigured to extend from Portage to a junction east of Canaseraga, replacing part of NY 408
New York State Route 408
New York State Route 408 is a state highway located entirely within Livingston County, New York, in the United States. It runs north–south from an intersection with NY 70 near the hamlet of Dalton in the town of Nunda to a junction with NY 63 in the town of Groveland near...
and all of New York State Route 70A and New York State Route 351. Reference marker
Reference marker (New York)
In New York, a reference marker is a small green sign mounted approximately every one-tenth mile on highways maintained by the New York State Department of Transportation. This was initiated in response to the Highway Safety Act of 1966 enacted by Congress, in an effort to monitor traffic and...
s for all three routes are still posted along NY 70.
Route description
NY 70 is posted as a north–south highway; however, it is inventoried by NYSDOTNew York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
as an east–west route, reflecting the route's more east–west than north–south alignment. As such, the route officially begins at an intersection with NY 436
New York State Route 436
New York State Route 436 is an east–west state highway located in the western portion of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 39 in the Pike hamlet of Lamont to a junction with NY 36 in the village of Dansville...
in the town of Portage, located in southwestern Livingston County
Livingston County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 64,328 people, 22,150 households, and 15,349 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 24,023 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
. It initially heads southward across open fields and past small wooded areas before curving to the east about 1 miles (1.6 km) later. The route continues in this direction for another 2 miles (3.2 km) to the town of Nunda
Nunda (town), New York
Nunda pronounced to the out of towner as "none day", is a town in Livingston County, New York, United States. The population was 3,017 at the 2000 census...
and the hamlet of Dalton, where it connects to the southern terminus of NY 408
New York State Route 408
New York State Route 408 is a state highway located entirely within Livingston County, New York, in the United States. It runs north–south from an intersection with NY 70 near the hamlet of Dalton in the town of Nunda to a junction with NY 63 in the town of Groveland near...
.
From Dalton southeast to Canaseraga
Canaseraga, New York
Canaseraga is a village in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 594 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from a creek that flows past the village, which is reportedly a native term for "lying among milkweeds."...
, NY 70 closely parallels the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
's Southern Tier Line
Southern Tier Line
The Southern Tier Line is a railroad line owned and operated by the Norfolk Southern Railway in the U.S. states of New York and Pennsylvania. The line runs from Suffern, New York northwest to Buffalo, New York mostly along a former Erie Railroad line. From Suffern to Sparrowbush along which...
as both the road and the rail line run along the base of a valley surrounding Canaseraga Creek, the source of which is located roughly 3 miles (5 km) east of Dalton. The valley takes the route and the railroad southeastward into Allegany County
Allegany County, New York
Allegany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,946. Its name derives from a Delaware Indian word, applied by settlers of Western New York State to a trail that followed the Allegheny River. Its county seat is...
, where they both pass through the railside hamlets of Swain (in the town of Grove
Grove, New York
Grove is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 533 at the 2000 census.The Town of Grove, in the northeast part of Allegany County, is northwest of Hornell, New York.- History :...
) and Garwoods (Burns
Burns, New York
Burns is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,248 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Scots poet Robert Burns....
). East of Garwoods, the creek curves to follow a more easterly track, and the valley, NY 70, and the Southern Tier Line all turn to match. Just over 2 miles (3.2 km) from Garwoods is the creekside village of Canaseraga, a stark departure from the isolated, undeveloped areas that NY 70 serves west of this point.
The open areas return east of the community, where it intersects NY 961F
New York State Route 961F
New York State Route 961F is a reference route in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 70 east of the Steuben County village of Canaseraga to a junction with NY 36 in the Allegany County village of Arkport...
, a rare signed reference route. At this point, the Southern Tier Line heads south to follow NY 961F toward Hornell
Hornell, New York
Hornell is a city in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 9,019 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Hornell family, early settlers. Its current population has not yet been released by the new census....
and Canaseraga Creek turns north toward the Livingston County village of Dansville
Dansville, Livingston County, New York
Dansville is a village in the town of North Dansville in the eastern part of Livingston County, New York, United States. As of the census, the village population was 4,832. The village is named after Daniel Faulkner, an early settler. Interstate 390 passes next to the west side of the village.-...
; however, NY 70 continues eastward toward the Steuben County
Steuben County, New York
Steuben County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 98,990. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a German general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same...
line. Past NY 961F, NY 70 initially heads generally eastward across a wide north–south gully that carries NY 36
New York State Route 36
New York State Route 36 is a north–south state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The highway extends for from the Pennsylvania state line at Troupsburg, Steuben County northward to Ogden, Monroe County, where it ends at an intersection with NY 31...
from Hornell to Dansville. About 1 miles (1.6 km) from the reference route, NY 70 turns sharply to the northeast, following this alignment into Steuben County and its town of Dansville
Dansville, Steuben County, New York
Dansville is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States, not to be confused with the nearby village of Dansville in Livingston County. The population was 1,977 at the 2000 census...
. The route ends just 0.24 mile (0.3862416 km) into the county at an intersection with NY 36 near the eastern edge of the valley.
History
In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, NY 70 was assigned to an alignment extending from NY 63New York State Route 63
New York State Route 63 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 15 and NY 21 in the village of Wayland in Steuben County. Its northern end is at a junction with NY 18 in the town...
(now Old State Road) in Granger
Granger, New York
Granger is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 577 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Francis Granger, Postmaster General....
to NY 2 (now NY 415
New York State Route 415
New York State Route 415 is a state highway located in Steuben County, New York, United States. It is a north–south trunk road that parallels in part, the Cohocton River, Interstate 86 and Interstate 390. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 414 in...
) south of Avoca
Avoca (village), New York
Avoca is a village located in the Town of Avoca in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 1,008 at the 2000 census.The Village of Avoca is located in the eastern part of the town, northwest of Bath, New York.- History :...
via the Grove
Grove, New York
Grove is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 533 at the 2000 census.The Town of Grove, in the northeast part of Allegany County, is northwest of Hornell, New York.- History :...
hamlet of Garwoods, Canaseraga
Canaseraga, New York
Canaseraga is a village in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 594 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from a creek that flows past the village, which is reportedly a native term for "lying among milkweeds."...
, Arkport
Arkport, New York
Arkport is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 832 at the 2000 census. The name comes from the barges used to ship products through the village...
, and Hornell
Hornell, New York
Hornell is a city in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 9,019 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Hornell family, early settlers. Its current population has not yet been released by the new census....
. From Garwoods to Canaseraga, NY 70 followed its modern routing; east of Canaseraga, NY 70 used modern NY 961F
New York State Route 961F
New York State Route 961F is a reference route in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 70 east of the Steuben County village of Canaseraga to a junction with NY 36 in the Allegany County village of Arkport...
, NY 36
New York State Route 36
New York State Route 36 is a north–south state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The highway extends for from the Pennsylvania state line at Troupsburg, Steuben County northward to Ogden, Monroe County, where it ends at an intersection with NY 31...
, and Big Creek Road (Steuben County's CR 70A). West of Garwoods, NY 70 followed Ames Nichols and Swain Roads to Spencer Worden Road, from where the route was to continue west to NY 63 by way of an extension of Swain Road. The portion of NY 70 between Garwoods and Avoca was previously part of NY 38 from the mid-1920s to the 1930 renumbering.
Most of what later became NY 70 was given a route designation at some point in the early 1930s. In the 1930 renumbering, the portion of current NY 70 between NY 63
New York State Route 63
New York State Route 63 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 15 and NY 21 in the village of Wayland in Steuben County. Its northern end is at a junction with NY 18 in the town...
(now NY 408
New York State Route 408
New York State Route 408 is a state highway located entirely within Livingston County, New York, in the United States. It runs north–south from an intersection with NY 70 near the hamlet of Dalton in the town of Nunda to a junction with NY 63 in the town of Groveland near...
) in Dalton and the then-western terminus of NY 70 in Garwoods was designated as part of NY 63A. By the following year, the remainder of what is now NY 70 west to NY 39
New York State Route 39
New York State Route 39 is an east–west state highway in the western portion of New York in the United States. It begins and ends at intersections with U.S. Route 20 apart...
(modern NY 436
New York State Route 436
New York State Route 436 is an east–west state highway located in the western portion of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 39 in the Pike hamlet of Lamont to a junction with NY 36 in the village of Dansville...
) was designated as NY 351 while the short east–west connector between Canaseraga and Dansville
Dansville, Steuben County, New York
Dansville is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States, not to be confused with the nearby village of Dansville in Livingston County. The population was 1,977 at the 2000 census...
was assigned NY 70A. The extension of Swain Road never materialized; as a result, NY 70 was cut back to its junction with NY 63A (now Allegany County's CR 15B) in Garwoods ca. 1939. In the early 1940s, NY 63 was rerouted south of Mount Morris and replaced with NY 408
New York State Route 408
New York State Route 408 is a state highway located entirely within Livingston County, New York, in the United States. It runs north–south from an intersection with NY 70 near the hamlet of Dalton in the town of Nunda to a junction with NY 63 in the town of Groveland near...
between Scotts Corners (north of Hinsdale
Hinsdale, New York
Hinsdale is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 2,270 at the 2000 census. The town was named after another location: Hinsdale, New Hampshire....
) and Mount Morris. As part of the switch, NY 63A was redesignated as NY 408A. NY 408 was rerouted between Angelica
Angelica (village), New York
Angelica is a village in Allegany County, New York, USA. The population was 903 at the 2000 census. The village and the town are named after Angelica Church, a daughter of General Philip Schuyler and wife of John Barker Church....
and Dalton to follow NY 408A ca. 1948.
NY 70 remained unchanged until the 1970s when the route was reconfigured into its modern alignment through a series of changes. Ca. 1974, NY 70 was truncated westward to Arkport following the completion of the Southern Tier Expressway between Hornell and Avoca. By 1977, NY 408 was truncated truncated to Dalton on its southern end. The Dalton–Garwoods segment of NY 408's former routing and all of NY 351 became a western extension of NY 70. The route was also realigned on its east end by this time to follow the routing of NY 70A east of Canaseraga. Reference marker
Reference marker (New York)
In New York, a reference marker is a small green sign mounted approximately every one-tenth mile on highways maintained by the New York State Department of Transportation. This was initiated in response to the Highway Safety Act of 1966 enacted by Congress, in an effort to monitor traffic and...
s for NY 70A, NY 351, and NY 408 still exist on the sections of NY 70 that once carried those designations.