Market Access

In order for industries to thrive, they must have fast and easy access to outside markets and Jefferson County’s proximity to major markets gives them that access. The county is within 300 miles of markets such as:

• Boston
• Philadelphia
• New York City
• Buffalo
• Toronto
• Montreal
• Ottawa

However, proximity is only important if there’s a convenient way of getting to where you need to go. Fortunately, Jefferson County is directly linked to both the United States and New York State Highway Systems.

• Interstate 81 links the county to Canadian markets such as Toronto to the west and Montreal to the east by connecting with Canada Highway 401 and the 1000 Islands Bridge, respectively. I-81 also connects the county to Syracuse and I-90.
• New York State Route 3 and U.S Route 11 link the county to the rest of upstate New York
• Adding to the benefits of the county’s location among highway systems is the availability of trucking and shipping services in the area. There are 12 trucking services, and four of them cover the entire nation.

Air, rail, and water transportation are also available to meet the shipping needs of businesses. The many options include:

• The Watertown International Airport, which has four daily departures to Boston, two daily departures to Albany, and daily flights to and from Chicago via American Eagle.  Another international airport is located in Syracuse, which is less than an hour south of Jefferson County.
• Major freight express companies provide service in the county.
• Rail service provided by CSX, including a main line and active spurs that run through the county. Combination truck service is available to the county using piggyback yards in Buffalo and Syracuse.
• The Ports of Oswego and Ogdensburg, which are an hour away from Jefferson County, provide ocean freight service.