Transportation
Uniquely Positioned in the Region
Canajoharie is uniquely positioned in the region with several major routes intersecting or running close by the village. Since the 1800’s Canajoharie has been connected to the region starting with the construction of the early turnpikes to the completion of the Erie Canal, which ran directly through the north side of the village. Canajoharie’s location provides travelers and local commuters as well as commercial trucks, access to the Adirondack region, Mohawk Valley, Central NY, and the Capital District all the way to Canada. Beyond roadways, the Mohawk River allows barge traffic and recreational use and both passenger and freight trains run along the north side of the river.
Major Roadways
NYS Thruway
The NYS Thruway spans 569.83 miles and consists of several connectors including: New York–Ripley mainline (Ripley to Yonkers) which includes the Exit 29 (Canajoharie), the Berkshire Connector, the Garden State Parkway Connector, the New England Thruway (I-95), the Niagara Thruway (I-190), and the Cross-Westchester Expressway (I-287). The Thruway plays a vital role in interstate, international and local commerce. Canajoharie’s proximity to the Thruway makes it an ideal location for industry and tourism.
NY-10
Route 10 (NY 10) runs north–south connecting Central New York and the North Country regions including the Adirondacks. It extends for 155 miles from NY 17 in Deposit, in Delaware County to NY 8 at Higgins Bay, in Hamilton County. NY 10 can be taken south to Sharon Springs from Canajoharie and connect to RT 20 to head to Cooperstown or continue on to connect to NY 88 a popular roadway for trucking between Binghamton and Schenectady.
NY-5
Route 5 extends for 370.80 miles across NY. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the town of Ripley and passes through major cities like Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and many smaller cities and communities, finally ending in Albany County at U.S. Route 9. Many communities call RT5 their Main Streets, and traveling along RT5 you experience many of the downtown’s of the region.
NY-5S
Route 5S runs parallel to the NYS Thruway (I90) for a total distance of 72.92 miles. NY 5S travels through many of the smaller towns and villages that make the banks of the Mohawk River home. Route 5S originates at the interchange with NY 5, NY 5A, NY 8, and NY 12 in Utica, and can be followed east all the way to Rotterdam Junction where it ends at the intersection with NY 890.
Bus Service
Bus service is offered throughout the region by several services including CDTA, Brown Coach, and Greyhound Bus. The closest bus station is located in Amsterdam, but a local Park & Ride for regional commuters is available in Fonda, NY just 15 minutes away.
Air Transportation
The nearest major airport is located in Albany, NY at the Albany International Airport which averages 53 daily departures. Nearby Syracuse also has the Syracuse Hancock International Airport which provides service to 21 cities across the east coast and the midwest. There are numerous smaller airports in the region for private and light aircraft flights.
Water Transportation
Mohawk River
The Mohawk River is a 149-mile-long river in the U.S. state of New York. It is the largest tributary of the Hudson River. The Mohawk flows into the Hudson in Cohoes, New York, a few miles north of the city of Albany. The river is named for the Mohawk Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy. It is a major waterway in north-central New York.
NYS Canal Corporation (Former Erie Canal)
The New York State Canal System is not only rich in history, but also culture. Many immigrants worked long and hard on “Clinton’s Ditch” to create this magnificent waterway. Folklore, songs and speech lingo emerged from those individuals working along the Canal. As the population grew and the Canal prospered, it became not only a transportation waterway, but also a vacation area for the well-to-do.
Railway
Passenger Rail Service
Amtrak operates passenger rail service on two main lines in the region. The Empire Service gives passengers access to major destinations like NYC, Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Service and be picked up in Amsterdam or Utica.
The Adirondack train travels the region running from New York City to Montreal; service can be picked up in Albany or Saratoga Springs.
Freight Rail Service
Millions of tons of freight travel over the railways of NYS. Access to rail gives area manufactures access to national and international markets. Trains carry a varying array of goods including heating oil, chemicals, scrap, minerals, agricultural products, cars, heavy equipment, food products and more. The closest major freight facilities near Canajoharie are Albany (~50 min.) and Syracuse (~1hr 25 min.)
