New York State Route 50
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 50 (NY 50) is a 31.67 miles (50.97 km) state highway
in the Capital District
of New York
in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 5
in Scotia
. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 32
in the Saratoga County
hamlet of Gansevoort
.
(NYSDOT). The lone locally maintained segment lies within the city of Saratoga Springs
, where the route is city-maintained from the southern boundary of the city's inner district to Van Dam Street, a local street three blocks north of NY 9N
and NY 29
.
and heads to the northeast, winding its way through the village before passing over an Amtrak
-owned section of the Hudson Subdivision
and leaving the village for the surrounding town of Glenville. About 1 miles (1.6 km) north of the Scotia village line, NY 50 meets Freemans Bridge Road (unsigned NY 911F) at a junction located just west of the Schenectady County Airport
, home to the Stratton Air National Guard Base
(which houses the 109th Airlift Wing
) and the Empire State Aerosciences Museum
. The route continues onward, traveling past the airport and through a series of residential communities in the northeastern corner of the county on its way to the Saratoga County
line.
, NY 67
comes in from the west as High Street, just north of the Verbeck House
. The two run concurrent into the village's downtown, past the National Bottle Museum
.
On its way to Saratoga Springs, NY 50 passes the Saratoga Performing Arts Center
and the Saratoga Spa State Park
. It then meets up with U.S. Route 9 (US 9) and forms a brief three-way concurrency with NY 29
at the corner of Broadway and Washington Avenue adjacent to Congress Park. About a quarter-mile later, NY 29 becomes Lake Avenue and heads towards Schuylerville
. The southern terminus of NY 9N
is also at this point, known as Church Street within city limits. The 9/50 concurrency goes another 1¼ miles before the former splits off and goes towards Glens Falls
. From Broadway and Van Dam Street to Interstate 87 (I-87), NY 50 is known as either the C.V. Whitney Memorial Highway or, more informally, "The Arterial".
East of I-87, NY 50 passes the Wilton Mall
, located about three-quarters of a mile from I-87 in the town of Wilton
. After passing the mall, NY 50 cuts through the countryside, ultimately reaching its end in Gansevoort at an intersection with NY 32
.
were assigned in 1924, the portion of modern NY 50 south of Saratoga Springs
was designated as part of NY 10
, a north–south highway extending from the New Jersey
state line near New York City
to Saranac Lake
via Albany
and Saratoga Springs. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, NY 10 was realigned south of Long Lake
to pass west of the Capital District on its way to the Southern Tier
. The old alignment of NY 10 between Scotia
and Saratoga Springs became part of the new NY 50, which continued north to Gansevoort
along a previously unnumbered roadway.
By 1947, Erie Boulevard, Maxon Road, and Freemans Bridge Road were collectively designated as a spur of NY 50. As a result, the NY 50 designation effectively split in Glenville
, with the west branch continuing south to Scotia and the east branch continuing southeast to NY 5
in Schenectady
. The east branch was removed from maps at some point between 1958 and 1962; however, it was redesignated as a special route of NY 50 by 1968. While maps drawn by General Drafting
labeled the route as "NY 50 Alternate", maps drawn by the H.M. Gousha Company labeled it as "NY 50 Spur". The special route was eliminated at some point in the late 1970s or early 1980s. The portion from Nott Street north to NY 50 remains state-maintained as NY 911F, an unsigned reference route.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the Capital District
Capital District
New York's Capital District, also known as the Capital Region, is a region in upstate New York that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of the state: Albany County, Schenectady County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County...
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. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 5
New York State Route 5
New York State Route 5 is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and several other smaller cities and...
in Scotia
Scotia, New York
Scotia is a village in Schenectady County, New York, United States, incorporated in 1904. The population was 7,957 at the 2000 census.The Village of Scotia is part of the Town of Glenville, partly contiguous with Schenectady, New York and is connected by the Western Gateway Bridge over the Mohawk...
. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 32
New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32 is a north–south state highway that extends for through the Hudson Valley and Capital District regions of the U.S. state of New York. It is a two-lane surface road for nearly its entire length, with few divided and no limited-access sections. From Harriman to Albany,...
in the Saratoga County
Saratoga County, New York
Saratoga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 219,607. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Ballston Spa...
hamlet of Gansevoort
Gansevoort, New York
Gansevoort is a hamlet in the town of Northumberland in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The hamlet of Gansevoort draws its name from Peter Gansevoort, a hero in the Siege of Fort Stanwix which contributed to the downfall of Burgoyne's army at the Battle of Saratoga during the...
.
Route description
All but 1.85 miles (2.98 km) of NY 50 is maintained by the New York State Department of TransportationNew 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 lone locally maintained segment lies within the city of Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
, where the route is city-maintained from the southern boundary of the city's inner district to Van Dam Street, a local street three blocks north of NY 9N
New York State Route 9N
New York State Route 9N is a north–south state highway in northeastern New York, United States. It extends from an intersection with U.S. Route 9 , NY 29, and NY 50 in the city of Saratoga Springs to a junction with US 9 and NY 22 in the Clinton County village of...
and NY 29
New York State Route 29
New York State Route 29 is a state highway extending for across the eastern portion of the U.S. state of New York. The western terminus of the route is at NY 28 and NY 169 in Middleville, Herkimer County. The eastern terminus of the route is at NY 22 just south of Salem,...
.
Schenectady County
Route 50 begins in Scotia at an intersection with NY 5New York State Route 5
New York State Route 5 is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and several other smaller cities and...
and heads to the northeast, winding its way through the village before passing over an Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
-owned section of the Hudson Subdivision
Hudson Subdivision
The Hudson Subdivision is a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation in the U.S. state of New York. The line runs from Poughkeepsie north along the east shore of the Hudson River to Rensselaer and northwest via Albany and Schenectady to Hoffmans along a former New York Central Railroad line...
and leaving the village for the surrounding town of Glenville. About 1 miles (1.6 km) north of the Scotia village line, NY 50 meets Freemans Bridge Road (unsigned NY 911F) at a junction located just west of the Schenectady County Airport
Schenectady County Airport
Schenectady County Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located three miles north of the city of Schenectady in Schenectady County, New York, USA....
, home to the Stratton Air National Guard Base
Stratton Air National Guard Base
Stratton Air National Guard Base has hosted the New York Air National Guard 109th Airlift Wing since 1949. The base is named after conservative Democratic US Representative Sam Stratton, who represented the Albany area.-Overview:...
(which houses the 109th Airlift Wing
109th Airlift Wing
The United States Air Force's 109th Airlift Wing is an Air Mobility Command gained tactical airlift unit of the New York Air National Guard. The unit is located at Stratton ANGB/Schenectady County Airport, New York and operates both conventional C-130 Hercules aircraft and specially modified...
) and the Empire State Aerosciences Museum
Empire State Aerosciences Museum
The Empire State Aerosciences Museum is a non-profit museum which strives to "educate, entertain and excite with experiences in air and space.” Established in 1984 and chartered by the New York State Department of Education, the museum is located on of land on the western perimeter of the...
. The route continues onward, traveling past the airport and through a series of residential communities in the northeastern corner of the county on its way to the Saratoga County
Saratoga County, New York
Saratoga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 219,607. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Ballston Spa...
line.
Saratoga County
NY 50 enters Saratoga County in Burnt Hills and winds its way through the countryside. At Ballston SpaBallston Spa, New York
Ballston Spa is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 5,556 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Saratoga County. The village is named after Rev. Eliphalet Ball, a Congregationalist clergyman and an early settler. The village lies on the border of two...
, NY 67
New York State Route 67
New York State Route 67 is an east–west state highway in eastern New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 5 in the town of St. Johnsville...
comes in from the west as High Street, just north of the Verbeck House
Verbeck House
The Verbeck House is located on Church Street just south of downtown Ballston Spa, New York, United States. It is a frame house built in the late 19th century....
. The two run concurrent into the village's downtown, past the National Bottle Museum
National Bottle Museum
The National Bottle Museum is located on Milton Avenue in downtown Ballston Spa, New York, United States. Established in 1978, it has a collection of around 2,000 antique bottles, most made prior to industrialization of the process in 1903...
.
On its way to Saratoga Springs, NY 50 passes the Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
The Saratoga Performing Arts Center is an amphitheater in Saratoga Springs, New York, which presents summer festivals of all kinds of music , dance, and opera, as well as a Wine & Food Festival...
and the Saratoga Spa State Park
Saratoga Spa State Park
Saratoga Spa State Park is a state park located in Saratoga County, New York in the USA. The park is in the City of Saratoga Springs, near US 9 and NY 50.-History:...
. It then meets up with U.S. Route 9 (US 9) and forms a brief three-way concurrency with NY 29
New York State Route 29
New York State Route 29 is a state highway extending for across the eastern portion of the U.S. state of New York. The western terminus of the route is at NY 28 and NY 169 in Middleville, Herkimer County. The eastern terminus of the route is at NY 22 just south of Salem,...
at the corner of Broadway and Washington Avenue adjacent to Congress Park. About a quarter-mile later, NY 29 becomes Lake Avenue and heads towards Schuylerville
Schuylerville, New York
Schuylerville is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,197 at the 2000 census. The village is named after the Schuyler family....
. The southern terminus of NY 9N
New York State Route 9N
New York State Route 9N is a north–south state highway in northeastern New York, United States. It extends from an intersection with U.S. Route 9 , NY 29, and NY 50 in the city of Saratoga Springs to a junction with US 9 and NY 22 in the Clinton County village of...
is also at this point, known as Church Street within city limits. The 9/50 concurrency goes another 1¼ miles before the former splits off and goes towards Glens Falls
Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States. Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census...
. From Broadway and Van Dam Street to Interstate 87 (I-87), NY 50 is known as either the C.V. Whitney Memorial Highway or, more informally, "The Arterial".
East of I-87, NY 50 passes the Wilton Mall
Wilton Mall
Wilton Mall at Saratoga is a very large regional shopping center located just off Interstate 87 Exit 15, just north of Saratoga Springs, New York. The mall has a gross leasable area of . The mall is anchored by Bon-Ton, Dick's Sporting Goods, JCPenney, and Sears; in addition, it features a food...
, located about three-quarters of a mile from I-87 in the town of Wilton
Wilton, New York
Wilton is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 12,511 at the 2000 census.The Town of Wilton is in the northeastern part of the county, northeast of Saratoga Springs, which it borders.-History:...
. After passing the mall, NY 50 cuts through the countryside, ultimately reaching its end in Gansevoort at an intersection with NY 32
New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32 is a north–south state highway that extends for through the Hudson Valley and Capital District regions of the U.S. state of New York. It is a two-lane surface road for nearly its entire length, with few divided and no limited-access sections. From Harriman to Albany,...
.
History
When the first set of posted routes in New YorkNew 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...
were assigned in 1924, the portion of modern NY 50 south of Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
was designated as part of NY 10
New York State Route 10
New York State Route 10 is a north–south state highway in the Central New York and North Country regions of New York in the United States. It extends for from the Quickway in Deposit, Delaware County to NY 8 at Higgins Bay, a hamlet in the Hamilton County town of Arietta...
, a north–south highway extending from the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
state line near New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake, New York
Saranac Lake is a village located in the state of New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,406. The village is named after Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes, which are nearby....
via Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
and Saratoga Springs. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, NY 10 was realigned south of Long Lake
Long Lake, New York
Long Lake is a town in Hamilton County, New York in the United States. The population was 852 at the 2000 census. The town is named for long Long Lake beside which it sits. The town is entirely within the Adirondack Park and is the most northerly town in the county. It is a summer tourism...
to pass west of the Capital District on its way to the Southern Tier
Southern Tier
The Southern Tier is a geographical term that refers to the counties of New York State west of the Catskill Mountains along the northern border of Pennsylvania. It is a loosely defined term that generally includes the counties that border Pennsylvania west of Delaware County inclusive...
. The old alignment of NY 10 between Scotia
Scotia, New York
Scotia is a village in Schenectady County, New York, United States, incorporated in 1904. The population was 7,957 at the 2000 census.The Village of Scotia is part of the Town of Glenville, partly contiguous with Schenectady, New York and is connected by the Western Gateway Bridge over the Mohawk...
and Saratoga Springs became part of the new NY 50, which continued north to Gansevoort
Gansevoort, New York
Gansevoort is a hamlet in the town of Northumberland in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The hamlet of Gansevoort draws its name from Peter Gansevoort, a hero in the Siege of Fort Stanwix which contributed to the downfall of Burgoyne's army at the Battle of Saratoga during the...
along a previously unnumbered roadway.
By 1947, Erie Boulevard, Maxon Road, and Freemans Bridge Road were collectively designated as a spur of NY 50. As a result, the NY 50 designation effectively split in Glenville
Glenville, Schenectady County, New York
Glenville is a town in Schenectady County, New York, United States. It was incorporated in 1821. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 28,183....
, with the west branch continuing south to Scotia and the east branch continuing southeast to NY 5
New York State Route 5
New York State Route 5 is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and several other smaller cities and...
in Schenectady
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
. The east branch was removed from maps at some point between 1958 and 1962; however, it was redesignated as a special route of NY 50 by 1968. While maps drawn by General Drafting
General Drafting
General Drafting Corporation of Convent Station, New Jersey, founded by Otto G. Lindberg, was one of the "Big Three" road map publishers from 1930 to 1970, along with H.M. Gousha and Rand McNally...
labeled the route as "NY 50 Alternate", maps drawn by the H.M. Gousha Company labeled it as "NY 50 Spur". The special route was eliminated at some point in the late 1970s or early 1980s. The portion from Nott Street north to NY 50 remains state-maintained as NY 911F, an unsigned reference route.