The majority of reference routes are owned by the state of New York and maintained by NYSDOT; however, some exceptions exist.

[2] 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.

Region 2 primarily covers the Central, Mohawk Valley, and south-central Adirondack areas of New York.

The counties comprising this region are Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Wayne, and Wyoming.

The counties comprising this region are Columbia, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster, and Westchester.