A portion of a $9.4 million transportation grant Rep. Sherwood Boehlert is trying to secure for Cayuga County would be devoted to a study that would measure the feasibility of extending Route 5 and adding passenger service to the Finger Lakes Railway.

Part of the $150,000 study would determine if the creation of the Syracuse uber mall and resort, Destiny USA, would increase population in the county and commuters traveling to Syracuse.

David Miller, county planning and economic development director, said the topic of Destiny's impact on Cayuga County has been debated for "about four or five years, as long as Destiny has been talked about."

County and Auburn city officials believe that with renewed talks between Destiny developers and investors - a new $2.67 billion tech park in Salina was recently proposed - Cayuga County should start brainstorming on ways it can attract future Destiny employees to take up residency here. One way would be to provide a more efficient route of travel to Syracuse, extending the Route 5 corridor to Auburn.

"It's definitely something we want to look into," Miller said. "It's going to be a challenge though."

Miller said the study will look into some of those challenges, like costs, available property, engineering issues and employment and tourism demand.

Boehlert, R-New Hartford, a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, believes the grant will create jobs and increase economic development opportunities in Cayuga County, as well as make local roads safe and efficient.

"A sound transportation and infrastructure system is critical to the safety and economic well-being of any community," Boehlert said.

The study will also look into putting a passenger service train on the Finger Lakes Railway. Company president Michael Smith said he is supportive of the study. He believes Cayuga County can take advantage of its history, wine region and Bass Pro Shops to attract many of Destiny's visitors to the west.

"To tap into the Destiny project would change the market in Auburn and Cayuga County," Smith said. "It would really provide more jobs and tourism and more opportunity for economic development. With Destiny, there will be jobs. And we can get those employees from Cayuga County into Destiny, and they don't have to worry about their car, gas prices or getting in and out of the place."

Smith said his railway, which primarily deals with cargo shipping, already hosts a handful of wine, holiday and shopping excursions that run from Syracuse to Auburn and points beyond. The rail line runs from Syracuse to Canandaigua, and has operating rights on Conrail lines that allow service to Penn Yan and Watkins Glen.

The grant has cleared two hurdles in the House, and the Senate will vote on the bill later this year. It could reach the president's desk by the end of the year.

Staff writer Benning W. De La Mater can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or ben.delamater@lee.net