Cuomo announces funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects

Bicycle and pedestrian projects in Central New York, the Mohawk Valley, the Southern Tier, and the North Country are among those that will benefit from federal grants.

The office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a total of about $70 million in grant funding for the projects in a news release distributed on Monday.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is funding the projects, which leverage a total investment or more than $103 million, Cuomo’s office said.

The projects will promote walking and biking, and boost tourism and economic-development opportunities in dozens of communities statewide, Cuomo contends.

The projects include the addition of accessible sidewalks, improved pedestrian access to public-transportation services, construction of new bicycle and pedestrian facilities and the preservation and conversion of abandoned railroad corridors for trail use.

The FHWA provides the funding, and the New York State Department of Transportation administers the funding.

The program provides up to 80 percent of the cost of each project, while the project sponsor provides the remaining share.

The funds are dedicated for strategic investments in transportation alternatives. When the grants are combined with a local-sponsor match of more than $33.6 million, they support a total investment of nearly $103.7 million, Cuomo’s office said.

The state chose the projects through a competitive solicitation process that involved a field of 135 applicants.

Officials rated the projects on established criteria that included public benefit and community support for the project; connectivity to an existing transportation system; how well the proposed improvements benefit walking and bicycling; impact on local or regional economies; availability of matching funds; and ability to deliver the project within federally required timeframes.

The projects include the following:

Central New York
City of Syracuse: Park Street neighborhood greenway: $585,451
City of Auburn: South Street Corridor enhancement project: $899,000
City of Ithaca: Cascadilla Creekway project: $600,000
Village of Trumansburg: Pedestrian commuting: $811,395
Village of Fayetteville: Canal Landing Park Phase IV: $314,076
Village of Dryden: Dryden Elementary safe routes to school project: $398,694
Town of Seneca Falls: Cady Stanton Elementary safe routes to school project: $889,175

Mohawk Valley
City of Oneida: Oneida rail trail and city center: $716,000
New York State Canal Corporation: Fort Herkimer Church to Lock 18 Erie Canalway Trail: $985,600
Village of Canastota: Phase II, South Peterboro Street enhancement project: $250,513

Southern Tier
City of Corning: Bridge Street pedestrian and bicycle-enhancement project: $362,880
City of Hornell: Shawmut Park trail development: $323,908
Chemung County: Lackawanna rail trail Phase II: $450,003
Village of Penn Yan: Outlet trail improvements: $502,800
Town of Mamakating: Wurtsboro D & H Towpath: $1,057,190
City of Binghamton: State Street Phase I: $480,000
Village of Newark Valley: Whig Street pedestrian improvements: $212,468

North Country
Clinton County: Northern Tier recreational trail: $1,319,340
Village of Clayton: Clayton river walk 3: $1,311,315
Village of Potsdam: Village of Potsdam riverwalk: $400,000
Town of Fine: Fine Wanakena footbridge: $200,000

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com