For years there have been calls to extend Route 690, as a four lane highway, from Camillus through Elbridge and into Auburn. The chance of doing this in the next few years seem unlikely, both from a financial and political point of view. While a lot of attention is spent on that possible connector, there are those who have been working to draw people to central New York, to get them to stay and, more importantly, leave their money with an already existing travel corridor.

Last week's unveiling of the � Miles of Farms, Food and Fun” by local tourism agencies promoting the Route 5 & 20 corridor, is part of an effort to draw tourism into this area.

Part of an overall theme of the “Routes 5 and 20 an Authentic American Road” efforts hope to focus attention to the area that starts with Elbridge and Skaneateles and stretches westward through Auburn and Seneca Falls to Batavia and Darien. While that is not the extent of 5 & 20 (it stretches from Boston to Newport, Ore.), it is the focus of several new ventures that may drive (no pun intended) people to the region.

It is clear that this area's tourism potential may not be with people who fly in from Boston or Chicago but those who live and work in the region within 200 miles. One of the offshoots of the funding of local tourism agencies through the innocuous local bed tax, is that it allows local tourism bureaus to leverage funds to attract people to the region to spend their money boosting the local economy and creating jobs.

According to the results of the second round of reviews done by Randall Travel, commissioned by the Cayuga County Office of Tourism, those who visit this area are more regional. Unlike Napa Valley or Orlando this is not an area where people fly into Syracuse and Rochester and visit as a destination. That is why such efforts, as the Route 5 & 20 Agri-Tourism (think wine trails here) Campaign can do more economically than most might think.

One of the projects that the group, made up largely of the local tourism bureaus over a six county area, is the new “Take Your Best Shot!” effort. The premise is simple: get people enthused about visiting the area by posting their photos and “traveling tales” on www.routes5and20.com.

Some, by the way, are already capitalizing on this corridor with their own private funds. The newly opened Lake House, half way between Auburn and Skaneateles, owned by Dave and Karen Mazzeo, focuses on this area. Chock full of products that denote, Auburn, Owasco and Skaneateles, the shop is a treasure trove for those trying to find that souvenir that features the area.

The Routes 5 & 20 campaign is a reality compared to the unfunded dream of extending 690.

Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com