A reference route is an unsigned highway assigned by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to roads that possess a signed name (mainly parkways), that NYSDOT has determined are too minor to have a signed touring route number, or are former touring routes that are still state-maintained. The majority of reference routes are owned by the state of New York and maintained by NYSDOT; however, some exceptions exist. The reference route designations are normally posted on reference markers, small green signs located every tenth-mile on the side of the road, though a few exceptions exist to this practice as well. These designations are not signed like other highways on normal reassurance marker road signs for drivers to see clearly, with four exceptions.
Reference route numbers are always three digit numbers in the 900s with a single alphabetic suffix. The designations are largely assigned in numerical and alphabetical order within a region, and designations are not reused once they are removed. Certain letters are avoided, such as "I" (used to indicate Interstate Highways and potential confusion with the number 1), "N" (used for institutional roads), "O" (potential confusion with the number 0), "R" (used for reservation roads), "S" (potential confusion with the number 5), "X" (a designation sometimes used in region 10), "Y", and "Z" (at the end of alphabet and not used). "Q" and "U" are not currently being assigned due to confusion in the past. Designations are assigned as follows:
- The first digit is 9, distinguishing the number as a reference route designation.
- The second digit corresponds to the NYSDOT region number the route is in, with regions 10 and 11 using the digit 0.
- The third digit is 6 for collector/distributor roads along limited access highways, 7–9 for parkways, and 0–5 for all other roads.
An older system of reference route numbering used numbers ranging from 800 to 999 without an alphabetic suffix. Some reference markers with these older numbers still exist, even though these reference routes have new numbers. Every road maintained by NYSDOT also has a state highway (SH) number, used in state laws.
Region 1
NYSDOT Region 1 primarily covers the Capital District, Saratoga–Champlain and Upper Hudson Valley areas. The counties comprising this region are Albany, Essex, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, and Washington.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Route
! Length<br>(mi)
! Length<br>(km)
! From
! width="20%" | Via
! To
! width="20%" | Notes
|-
| 910A
|
| NY 32 (Elm Avenue)
| Feura Bush and Glenmont roads (SH 367) in Bethlehem
| NY 144 (River Road)
| Former routing of NY 32
|-
| id="10B" | 910B
|
| NY 5 (Central Avenue)
| Wolf Road (SH 69-1) in Colonie
| Albany CR 151 (Albany Shaker Road), To NY 155/Albany International Airport, and I-87 exits 3&4
|
|-
| 910C
|
| Albany city line
| Broadway (SH 977) in Menands
| NY 32 (Wolfert Avenue)
| Former routing of NY 32
|-
| 910D
|
| NY 155 (Karner Road) in Albany
| Washington Avenue Extension (SH 67-15)
| I-90 eastbound Exit 2 in Albany
| Extended from Fuller Road when that intersection was rebuilt as an interchange
|- style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
| 910E
|
| NY 85 / NY 140
| New Scotland Road (SH 5237) in Bethlehem
| Albany city line
| Former number; still shown in the 2017 route log; former routing of NY 85
|-
| 910F
|
| US 20 (Western Avenue) in Guilderland
| Fuller Road Alternate (SH 59-8 and SH 57-12)
| I-87 / I-90 in Albany
|
|-
| id="10G" | 910G
|
| Albany CR 354 / CR 362
| Potter Hollow Road (SH 364) in Rensselaerville
| NY 81 at NY 145
| <!--was it once NY 342?-->
|- style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
| id="10H" | 910H
|-
| 913Q
|
| Mount Van Hoevenberg
| Bobsled Run Road (SH 67-17) in North Elba
| NY 73
|
|-
| 913T
|
| NY 32
| Ramp connection (SH 68-2) in Menands
| I-787 exit 6
|
|-
| 913V
|
| Empire State Plaza
| South Mall Arterial (SH 74-1, SH 67-2, and SH 67-12) in Albany
| US 20
|
|-
| 914A
|
| NY 22
| Moses Road and Main Street (SH 5478) in Petersburg
| NY 2
| Two connecting roads; former routing of NY 2
|-
| id="14B" | 914B
|
| NY 337 (Campbell Road) at I-890 exit 2
| Campbell Road Extension (SH 70-4) in Rotterdam
| Old Rice Road
| <!--technically this wasn't NY 5S; old NY 5S here was covered by I-890-->
|- style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
| id="14C" | 914C
|
| Washington Avenue
| Ring Road ramps (SH 63-13) in Albany
| Washington Avenue
| Former number; still shown in the 2017 route log.
|-
| id="14D" | 914D
|
| NY 915D (Broadway) at I-890 exit 5
| Broadway (SH 53-7) in Schenectady
| Millard Street and Edison Avenue
|
|-
| id="14E" | 914E
|
| Millard Street
| Veeder Avenue (SH 63-6) in Schenectady
| NY 5 (State Street)
|
|-
| id="14F" | 914F
|
| US 20
| Wye connection (SH 439) in Nassau
| NY 66
|
|-style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
|id="14H"|914H
|
|
|I-787/NY 7
|SH 69-6
|Arch Street
|Former number; now NY 787
|-
| 914T
|
| NY 5
| Balltown Road (SH 9420) in Niskayuna
| NY 146 / NY 911G
| Reference markers show NY 546<!--shown in traffic counts-->
|-
| id="14V" | 914V
|
| NY 50 in Glenville
| Glenridge Road (SH 9421 and SH 9459)
| NY 146 in Clifton Park
|
|-
| 915B
|
| Hudson Avenue in Green Island
| Green Island Bridge (SH 75-77)
| US 4 in Troy
|
|-
| 915C
|
| US 4 / NY 32 (Hudson Avenue) in Stillwater
| Stillwater Bridge (SH 1791)
| Rensselaer CR 125 at Canal Road in Schaghticoke
| Former routing of NY 67
|-
| id="15D" | 915D
|
| NY 914D (Broadway) at I-890 exit 5
| Broadway (SH 89-2) in Schenectady
| Weaver Street<!--?-->
|
|-
| 915E
|
| NY 151
| 3rd Avenue Extension (SH 5533) in East Greenbush
| US 4
| Former routing of NY 43
|-
| id="15F" | 915F
|
| I-87 exit 27
| Vanderwalker Road (SH 65-10) in Schroon
| US 9
|
|-
| 915G
|
| NY 7
| Bennington Bypass<!--too new to be on the map--> in Hoosick
| Vermont state line (becomes Vermont Route 279)
|
|-
| 915H
|
| I-87
| New York State Thruway (SH 53002) in Albany
| I-90
| Maintained by the New York State Thruway Authority
|-
| id="15J" | 915J
|
| NY 911U near I-87 exit 11 in Malta
| Round Lake Bypass (SH 9387 and SH 2006-3)
| US 9 / NY 67 in Round Lake
| Opened 2009
|-
| id="15K" | 915K
|
| US 9 / NY 22
| Connector highway in Chesterfield
| I-87 exit 33
| Assigned between 2007 and 2009
|
| Gloversville city line
| Easterly Street in Johnstown
| Fulton CR 102 / CR 122
| Ownership transferred to Fulton County; now extended CR 102
|-
| 920H
|
| NY 30
| Bridge Street (SH 362) in Northampton
| Northville village line
| Former routing of NY 30
|-
| 920J
|
| Gloversville city line
| Saratoga Boulevard and Steele Avenue (SH 1377) in Johnstown
| NY 29
| Former routing of NY 29A
|- style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
| 920L
|
|
|
| Old Route 5
| NY 5
| Former routing of NY 5
|- style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
| id="20M" | 920M
|
| NY 169
| Fincks Basin Road
| NY 169
| Former routing of NY 169
|-
| 920P
|
| NY 30A in Fultonville
| Riverside Drive (SH 5656A and SH 9467)
| NY 5S in Glen
| Former NY 862
|-
| 920T
|
| Midway between Maple and 3rd avenues
| Moyer Street (SH 1763) in Canajoharie
| Montgomery Street
| Formerly part of NY 361; former NY 927
|-
| 920V
|
| NY 365 in Prospect
| Prospect Street (SH 5345 and SH 5346)
| NY 12 / NY 28 in Remsen
| Formerly NY 28B
|- style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
| 920W
|
|
| NY 13
| Lakeshore Road in Verona
| NY 13
| Former number; former routing of NY 13; gap in designation at Verona Beach State Park
|-
| id="21B" | 921B
|
| Main Street in New York Mills
| Burrstone Road (SH 1943 and SH 72-3)
| Bennett Street in Utica
|Former routing of NY 31
|-
| 921C
|
| NY 5S
| Genesee Street (SH 71-22, SH 65-18, and SH 62-12) in Utica
| Herkimer Road
| Former routing of NY 5 / NY 8 / NY 12
|-
| 921D
|
| NY 12 / NY 28
| Mappa Avenue (SH 931) in Barneveld
| NY 365
| Former routing of NY 12 / NY 28; former NY 921
|-
| 921E
|
| NY 12
| Genesee Street (SH 60-12, SH 250, and SH 5052) in New Hartford
| Utica city line
| Former routing of NY 5 / NY 12; former NY 922
|- style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
| id="21F" | 921F
|
| Utica city line
| Barnes Avenue (SH 1517) in Marcy
| Mohawk, Adirondack and Northern Railroad grade crossing
| Former number; former NY 923
|-
| id="21G" | 921G
|
| NY 29
| Mechanic Street (SH 464) in Salisbury
| NY 29A
| Wye connection; former NY 928
|- style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
| id="21K" | 921K
|
|
| Lakeshore Road
| Forest Avenue in Verona
| Spencer Avenue
| Former number
|-
| id="21P" | 921P
|
| NY 5S
| John Street (SH 71-22) in Utica
| Broad Street
|
|-
| id="21T" | 921T
|
| NY 8
| Campion and Oxford roads and Mill Street (SH 66-6) in New Hartford
| NY 8
|
|- style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
| id="21V" | 921V
|
| NY 5 eastbound
| Schuyler Street in Amsterdam
| NY 5 westbound
| Former number; now part of NY 5
|-
| id="21W" | 921W
|
| Utica city line
| French Road, Champlin Avenue and Whitesboro Street (SH 9464) in Utica
| NY 5A
|
|-
| id="22A" | 922A
|
| NY 69 in Whitesboro
| Mohawk Street (SH 9463)
| NY 49 in Marcy
|
|-
| id="22B" | 922B
|
| NY 5S in German Flatts
| Washington Street (SH 9468)
| NY 5 / NY 28 in Herkimer
|
|-
| 922C
|
| Oneida CR 13
| College Hill Road (SH 1610) in Kirkland
| NY 233 / NY 412
|
|-
| id="22E" | 922E
|
| NY 69 in Oriskany
| River Street (SH 9528)
| NY 49 in Marcy
|
|-
| id="26A" | 926A
|
| NY 8 / NY 12 northbound in Utica
| Horatio Street (SH 8N)
| NY 8 / NY 12 northbound in Deerfield
|
|}
Region 3
Region 3 primarily covers the eastern Finger Lakes area. The counties comprising this region are Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga, Oswego, Seneca, and Tompkins.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Route
! Length<br>(mi)
! Length<br>(km)
! From
! width="20%" | Via
! To
! width="20%" | Notes
|-
| id="30B" | 930B
|
| Onondaga Street
| West Street Arterial (SH 62-7) in Syracuse
| I-690 exit 11
|
|-
| id="30C" | 930C
|
| West Street Arterial
| Seymour and Adams streets (SH 62-7, SH 53-18, and SH 66-7) in Syracuse
| I-81 exit 18
|
|-
| 930F
|
| Ithaca city line
| East Shore Drive (SH 454) in Ithaca
| NY 34
| Former routing of NY 34
|-
| id="30J" | 930J
|
| US 11
| Bear Road (SH 57-7) in North Syracuse
| South Bay Road
|
|- style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
| 930M
|
| NY 298 in Salina
| New Court Street (SH 672 and SH 672A)
| Syracuse city line in DeWitt
| Former number; formerly part of NY 433; now part of NY 598
|-
| id="30P" | 930P
|
| NY 5
| Bridge Street (SH 70-2 and SH 68-4) in DeWitt
| NY 290
|
|-
| id="30Q" | 930Q
|
| NY 281
| Ramp connection (SH 62-13) in Cortlandville
| I-81 exit 12
|
|- style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
| 930T
|
| NY 5 in Camillus
| SH 5016, SH 71-3, and SH 54-5
| I-690 exit 6 in Geddes
| Former number; now NY 695
|-
| 930W
|
| Camillus town line
| West Genesee Street (SH 132) in Geddes
| NY 5
| Former routing of NY 5
|-
| 931B
|
| NY 297
| State Fair Boulevard (SH 9425) in Geddes
| I-690 exit 6
| Formerly part of NY 48
|-
| 931E
|
| NY 326
| Half Acre Road (SH 9470) in Aurelius
| US 20 / NY 5
|
|-
| 931F
|
| NY 321
| Forward Road (SH 897) in Camillus
| NY 174
| Former routing of NY 321
|-
| 931G
|
| NY 370
| Oswego Street (SH 5274) in Liverpool
| Onondaga CR 91 at Tulip Street
| Formerly part of NY 57
|-
| id="31H" | 931H
|
| US 11
| Circle Drive (SH 69-5) in Cicero
| Culvert east of NY 481 exit 10
|
|-
| id="31J" | 931J
|
| NY 31
| Pardee Road (SH 57-6) in Cicero
| I-81 exit 30 northbound on-ramp
|
|-
| id="31K" | 931K
|
| NY 481 southbound on-ramp
| Soule Road (SH 69-5) in Clay
| NY 31
|
|-
| id="31L" | 931L
|
| US 11
| South State Street (SH 64-7) in Syracuse
| Brighton Avenue
|
|-
| id="31M" | 931M
|
| Teall Avenue
| Arterial Road (SH 672A) in Salina
| NY 298
|
|-
| id="31P" | 931P
|
| Ramp to NY 690 southbound
| Sorrell Hill Road (SH 8496) in Van Buren
| NY 31
|
|-
| id="36A" | 936A
|
| US 11 in Salina
| I-81 northbound service road (SH 81IN)
| East Taft Road in Cicero
|
|-
| id="36B" | 936B
|
| East Taft Road in Cicero
| I-81 southbound service road (SH 81IS)
| US 11 in Salina
|
|-
| id="36C" | 936C
|
| Syracuse east city line
| I-690 eastbound service road (SH 690IE) in East Syracuse
| Bridge Street
|
|-
| id="36D" | 936D
|
| Bridge Street
| I-690 westbound service road (SH 690IW) in East Syracuse
| Syracuse east city line
|
|-
| id="36E" | 936E
|
| Hiawatha Boulevard
| I-81 northbound service road (SH 81IN) in Syracuse
| NY 370 westbound
|
|-
| id="36F" | 936F
|
| Ramp to I-81 southbound
| I-81 southbound service road (SH 81IS) in Syracuse
| NY 298 westbound
|
|}
Region 4
Region 4 primarily covers the western Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley areas. The counties comprising this region are Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Wayne, and Wyoming.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Route
! Length<br>(mi)
! Length<br>(km)
! From
! width="20%" | Via
! To
! width="20%" | Notes
|-
| id="40D" | 940D
|
| NY 15A
| Wye connection (SH 1868) in Mendon
| West Main Street
|
|- style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
| 940G
|
| NY 252
| East River Road (SH 1367) in Brighton
| Rochester city line
| Designation removed November 26, 2007;
|-
| 954P
|
| Niagara Scenic Parkway
| Upper Mountain Road (SH 60-2) in Lewiston
| NY 265
|
|-
| 954T
|
| I-86 / US 219 / NY 17 exit 23
| SH 8018 and SH 8144 in Carrollton
| NY 417
| Former routing of US 219; part of US 219 Business
|-
| 954V
|
| NY 384
| Rainbow Blvd and 1st Street (SH 75-4 and SH 73-4)
| NY 104
|
|-
| 955A
|
| Canada–US border
| Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls
| NY 384
| Maintained by Niagara Falls Bridge Commission
|-
| 955B
|
| Canada–US border
| Peace Bridge in Buffalo
| Peace Bridge customs plaza
| Maintained by Peace Bridge Authority
|-
| 955C
|
| Canada–US border
| Whirlpool Rapids Bridge in Niagara Falls
| NY 182
| Maintained by Niagara Falls Bridge Commission
|-
| 957A
|
| LaSalle Expressway in Niagara Falls
| Niagara Scenic Parkway (SH PKWAY and SH RAMP)
| NY 18 in Porter
| Maintained by New York State Parks Department
|-
| 957B
|
| West River Road
| South Parkway (SH 35-2 and SH 35-1) on Grand Island
| I-190 / Thruway
| Maintained by New York State Parks Department
|-
| 957C
|
| South Parkway
| West River Parkway (SH 49-1 and SH 51-3) on Grand Island
| I-190 / Thruway
| Maintained by New York State Parks Department
|-
| 958A
|
| Niagara Scenic Parkway
| Spur to Fort Niagara (SH 65-2) in Porter
| Fort Niagara State Park
| Maintained by New York State Parks Department
|}
Region 6
Region 6 primarily covers the western and central portions of the Southern Tier. The counties comprising this region are Allegany, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Yates. Reference routes for Tioga County are also listed here, as Tioga County was in Region 6 until August 2007.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Route
! Length<br>(mi)
! Length<br>(km)
! From
! width="20%" | Via
! To
! width="20%" | Notes
|-
| id="60B" | 960B
|
| University Street
| North Main Street (SH 1654) in Alfred
| NY 244
| Former NY 856
|- style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
| 960D
|
|
| Steuben County line
| Sagetown Road in Southport
| NY 328
| Former number; former routing of NY 328; now Chemung CR 78
|-
| 960H
|
| NY 96
| Mill Street (SH 5471) in Candor
| NY 96B
| In Region 9; former routing of NY 96B
|-
| id="60J" | 960J
|
| NY 434
| NY 17 exit 65 connection (SH 65-3 and SH 66-3) in Owego
| NY 17C
| In Region 9
|-
| id="60M" | 960M
|
| NY 415 in Erwin
| Meads Creek Road (SH 9380)
| I-86 / NY 17 exit 42 in Campbell
| Former NY 960
|- style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
| 960Q
|
| NY 352
| Madison Avenue in Elmira
| Washington Avenue
| Former number; formerly part of NY 13
|-
| id="60U" | 960U
|
| I-86 / NY 17 exit 39
| Babcock Hollow Road (SH 69-2) in Bath
| NY 415
| Former routing of NY 15; formerly NY 866
|-
| id="61A" | 961A
|
| NY 17 exit 59 / NY 427
| Wyncoop Creek Road (SH 67-4) in Chemung
| Chemung CR 3 at CR 60
|
|-
| 961B
|
| Pennsylvania state line
| Wilawana Road (SH 1764) in Chemung
| NY 427
| Former routing of NY 427
|-
| 961F
|
| NY 70 in Burns
| West Avenue (SH 1366 and SH 5532)
| NY 36 in Arkport
| Former routing of NY 70; signed as a touring route
|-
| id="61G" | 961G
|
| NY 244
| Hamilton Hill Road (SH 5502) in Alfred
| NY 21
|
|-
| id="61H" | 961H
|
| NY 54
| Extension of Hopeton Road (SH 1721) in Torrey
| NY 14
|
|-
| id="61J" | 961J
|
| NY 415
| Michigan Hollow Road (SH 73-3) in Avoca
| Kanona Road
|
|- style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
| 961K
|
| NY 427
| Maple Avenue (SH 355) in Elmira
| Elmira city line
| Former number; former routing of NY 427; now Chemung CR 85
|-
| 961L
|
| Steuben County line (becomes CR 87)
| Hammondsport–Wayne Road (SH 1684) in Tyrone
| NY 230
| Former routing of NY 230
|-
| 961M
|
| NY 14
| Clemens Center Parkway (SH 80-2) in Elmira
| Grand Central Avenue
|
|- style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
| 961P
|- style="background-color:#e7e7e7"
| id="71G" | 971G
|
| NY 37
| Rooseveltown traffic circle (SH 1861) in Massena
| NY 37
| Eliminated between 2009 and 2012 as part of redesign of Seaway International Bridge approach