New York State Route54A (NY54A) is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. It runs in a northeast to southwest direction through part of the Finger Lakes district of New York. The southern terminus of NY54A is at NY54 south of Hammondsport. The northern terminus is in Penn Yan, where it rejoins NY54. Unlike NY54, which runs along the east side of Keuka Lake, NY54A has a more circuitous route around the western side of the lake.
Route description
NY54A begins at an intersection with NY54 in the town of Urbana. NY54A proceeds northward through Urbana as Main Street Extension, crossing Keuka Inlet into the village of Hammondsport. After the inlet, NY54A changes names to Main Street, crosses over the Bath and Hammondsport Railroad alignment and enters downtown Hammondsport. The route remains a two-lane residential highway, intersecting with County Route88 (CR88; Lake Street) before turning eastward on Pulteney Street. Bending to the northwest through the northern end of the village, NY54A leaves along the side of Keuka Lake. Now known as West Lake Road, NY54A is now paralleling CR76 (Hammondsport-South Pulteney Road) through Urbana. Continuing lakeside, NY54A passes a long stretch of lakeside residences. Continuing northeast, NY54A enters the lakeside hamlet of Glen Grove, consisting of a few lakeside homes.[3]
After leaving Glen Grove, NY54A bends northward out of the hamlet through Urbana until entering the town of Pulteney. Turning northeastward once again, the route enters the hamlet of Gibson Landing at an intersection with Gallagher Road. Gibson Landing consists of a few lakeside homes before leaving to the north. Passing Lakeside Park, a local park, the route turns northward into the hamlet of Lakeside Park. In Lakeside Park, NY54A intersects with the eastern terminus of CR78. NY54A continues northward through Pulteney. Several miles to the north, NY54A crosses the county line into Yates County and the town of Jerusalem. NY54A turns to the northwest slightly away from the lake, crossing into the hamlet of Branchport. In Branchport, the route intersects with CR32 (Italy Hill Road) and CR29 (North Main Street). At this intersection, NY54A turns eastward along CR32's former right-of-way, while, CR29 continued northward.[3]
NY54A northbound in Branchport
Crossing the northern end of one branch of Keuka Lake, NY54A heads eastward as a two-lane highway, passing to the north of Keuka Lake State Park. Continuing NY54A bends northeastward into the hamlet of Bluff Point, which consists of a few farms. Continuing through Jerusalem, NY54A passes Elephant Park and into the hamlet of Keuka Park. In Keuka Park, NY54A intersects with CR25 (Central Avenue) and comes within a mile of the other branch of Keuka Lake. After paralleling and intersecting with CR21, NY54A enters the village of Penn Yan. Through Penn Yan, NY54A passes Lakeview Cemetery, becoming known as Elm Street through downtown. NY54A crosses NY14A (Liberty Street) as a two-lane village street before intersecting NY54 once again at Main Street. This intersection serves as NY54A's northern terminus.[3]
History
The roadway along the western shores of Keuka Lake from Hammondsport to Penn Yan was originally designated as part of NY38 in the mid-1920s.[4][5] In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, the portion of NY38 from Bath to Penn Yan became part of the new NY54.[6] At the same time, an alternate route of NY54 between Hammondsport and Penn Yan along the eastern shoreline of Keuka Lake was designated as NY54A.[2] The alignments of NY54 and NY54A between Hammondsport and Penn Yan were flipped in the early 1940s, placing NY54A on its current alignment.[7][8]
After deteriorating for many years, the 5-mile (8km) portion of NY54A between Penn Yan and Branchport underwent a $5.2million rehabilitation during the summer of 2010. This work was done after several years of loud complaints from area residents. In October, local and state officials gathered at the scenic overlook near Esperanza Drive for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of the project.[9]
12Automobile Legal Association (ALA) Automobile Green Book, 1930–31 and 1931–32 editions, (Scarborough Motor Guide Co., Boston, 1930 and 1931). The 1930–31 edition shows New York state routes prior to the 1930 renumbering
↑"Route 54A celebration". The Chronicle-Express. Penn Yan, New York. October 26, 2010. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
