Infrastructure project at State Fairgrounds to include ADA-compliant sidewalks

GEDDES, N.Y. — It’s a project that seeks to “enhance safety and the pedestrian experience” for those visiting the New York State Fairgrounds in the town of Geddes.

Federal funding, provided under the Infrastructure Law, will provide upgrades to State Fair Boulevard in the town of Geddes, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced June 9. 

The project will include more than 17,000 square feet of new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant sidewalks, the elimination of three at-grade railroad crossings, new gates, and traffic lights. 

The project is anticipated to begin design in 2024 and be completed in 2026. 

The effort is made possible by an $11 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration’s grade-crossing elimination program to the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT). 

NYSDOT will contribute a 20 percent non-federal match toward the project, Hochul’s office said. 

Project specifics

The grade-crossing consolidation project at the State Fairgrounds will focus on State Fair Boulevard. The project seeks to improve safety conditions by installing flashers, gates, traffic lights, and other safety devices at the State Fairgrounds at gates 1, 2, 4 and 6, as well as along State Fair Boulevard, Hochul’s office said. 

Crews will also install more than 17,000 square feet of new ADA-compliant sidewalks, facilitating movement from parking areas toward the entry gates, “ensuring that individuals can safely enter the fair at a protected crossing.” 

The project will eliminate three at-grade crossings (or level with the highway), while the remaining four will be equipped with new warning devices, barriers, and fencing. These crossings provide access from the parking areas to the Fairgrounds and currently have no signage or warning devices, Hochul’s office said. 

The project includes accessibility and parking upgrades and a new fence system surrounding the tracks. It is estimated that more than 1 million people, including fairgoers, employees, and vendors, use these at-grade crossings annually, “primarily during the Fair,” while the Fairgrounds as a whole attract about 2 million visitors throughout the year, per Hochul’s office. 

“The State Fairgrounds are one of the largest tourist destinations in all of New York, and this federal grant — made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Program — will make the visitor experience a safer, more enjoyable one for millions coming from across the globe every year,” Hochul said. “From the moment a fairgoer departs a car, bus or train, the Fairgrounds are fundamentally a pedestrian experience, and we want to keep pedestrians as safe as possible as they enjoy all the wonders that this 375-acre complex has have to offer. Coupled with our ongoing, multi-million-dollar investments to upgrade the Fairgrounds’ infrastructure and experience, these enhancements to State Fair Boulevard will help enhance safety while ensuring a great time for all.”

The project also includes modifying the Empire State Trail route so that it no longer requires entry into the Fairgrounds, eliminating “unnecessary” grade crossings for pedestrians and cyclists using the trail. Crews will also build new sidewalk connections as part of the re-routing of the Empire State Trail, “increasing navigability and safety of this widely used bicycle and pedestrian trail,” the state says.

“We are always looking for ways to make the visitor experience more efficient, welcoming, and enjoyable. It’s a priority for our team to make sure the Fair and Fairgrounds are accessible, and as accommodating as possible, for all visitors,” Sean Hennessey, interim director of the New York State Fair, said. “We thank the New York State Department of Transportation and Federal Railroad Administration for this grant that will make it easier to move through gates 1, 2, 4 and 6.”