Mohawk Hudson Regional
Canalway Trail Group Meeting
September 29, 2003
Meeting Review
|
NAME |
REPRESENTING |
ADDRESS |
TELEPHONE NUMBER |
E-MAIL ADDRESS |
|
Jason Purvis |
5 Computer Dr. West Albany, NY 12205 |
458-2161 |
||
|
Teresa |
5 Computer Dr. West Albany, NY 12205 |
458-2161 |
||
|
Louis Rossi |
72B Devonshire Dr. Guilderland, N 12084 |
221-3782 |
||
|
John DiMura |
NYS Canal Corp |
200 Southern Blvd. Albany, NY 12209 |
436-3034 |
|
|
Henrietta O’Grady |
44 Church Hill Waterford, NY 12188 |
371-8374 |
||
|
Patrick Clear |
ECOS |
PO Box 9118 Niskayuna, NY 12309 |
370-4125 |
|
|
Paul Russell |
Town of Colonie |
347 Old Niskayuna Rd. Latham, NY 12110 |
783-2839 |
|
|
Pat Rush |
ECOS |
1177 Oxford Place Schenectady, NY 12308 |
`374-6995 |
|
|
Don Odell |
Friends of MHBHT |
97 Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12203 |
482-4574 |
|
|
Sandra Rohner |
|
24 Beach Rd. Halfmoon, NY 12065 |
383-5560 |
|
|
Elaine Troy |
NYSDOH Healthy Heart |
Frear Building 2 Fulton St. Troy, NY 12180 |
402-0723 |
|
|
Steve Marsh |
Friends of MHBHT |
109 Huston St. Scotia, NY 12302 |
372-4054 |
q With regard to the Scrafford Lane and SR 5S, Lou Rossi will follow up with Steve Feeney.
q The on-road route through the City of Schenectady has been inventoried both via bicycle and on foot. Report preparation is continuing by Don Odell. A report will be forwarded to Steve Feeney and Milt Mitchell.
q John DiMura noted Howard Halstead’s letter to Union College. The letter can be found on line at: http://www.geocities.com/mhbway/letters/union_plans_for_trail.pdf. Basically he is requesting more information about Union College’s plans for the trail in the vicinity of the former Ramada Inn area to Huron Street. It was also noted that the removal of the Nott Street bridge has created an isolated segment of the trail in Schenectady. John will contact the NYSOPRHP (George Igler) to get some input from that agency.
q It was noted that Schenectady City enhancement funds are there. It is up to the city to account for progress and spending. There may have been some combining of projects for administrative purposes that may have a bearing on how the program is handled.
q Jason Purvis noted that the Greenway/CDTC/Albany County Study did not address east-west connections. The focus was on north-south connections and gaps in the trail from the Corning Preserve to Waterford. The study is nearly complete, and staff is working with the consultant to finish the report.
q The City of Watervliet still prefers a trail between I-787 and the River for the segment from the Watervliet trail head to the Watervliet Memorial Park. Exploration into funding, etc. continues.
q The City of Cohoes secured funding for the bridge at Canon Street to Green Island.
q The Town is working with the Glenwood Center in developing a waterfront development team which will lead the way in the development of a waterfront revitalization plan that will later be incorporated into a town comprehensive plan.
q An international team will be here for a week in late October to provide an intensive fact-finding and plan development process.
q A local organizing committee has been created. With the leadership of Maggie Vinciguerra, there may be an attempt to create a regional perspective on the Mohawk through a not-for-profit entity.
q Schenectady County is trying to decide how to handle maintenance of Schenectady County land at Lock 9. There are presently no procedures in place.
q Steve Marsh reported on the trail ride conducted by him and one other person of the entire Mohawk Hudson Bike Hike Trail, which went from Scotia and Rotterdam to the Corning Preserve and return, a total of about 85 miles. The intent of the ride was to judge the adequacy of the trail and amenities for someone coming from out of town. Steve reported that there are practically no amenities from Schenectady to Albany. And some that did exist were closed.
q This led to an extended discussion about approaches to addressing the concern. These included about providing signs pointing out nearby amenities without resulting in sign pollution. There may be a need of sign standards. Another possibility was to provide links to a website(s) which includes maps identifying amenities.
q This item is to be included on next month’s agenda.
q Don Odell reported that there has been a lack of a quorum at the last two meetings, and that the sense of those present was to reduce the number of meetings from monthly to no more than six a year, and maybe quarterly. The next meeting is in November.
q John DiMura reported that the Canalway is finishing up three projects in Montgomery County, and ones in Brockport and the Utica area.
q Lou Rossi complimented NYSDOT on the signage installed at the Watervliet trail head. He indicated that similar treatment is needed at other trail heads, e.g., Schenectady Community College, Nott Street, Cohoes.
q In response to a question about the status of trail construction in Montgomery County, John indicated that the Canalway has not accepted the work as completed.
q Jason Purvis reported:
· That, as part of the Community and Transportation Linkage Planning Program, CDTC is working on a project looking at the feasibility of route options between the Livingston Avenue Bride and Menands Bridge in Rensselaer County.
· He also reported that the Town of Malta’s Linkage Project is complete. This project provided sidewalk and trail guidelines for the Town which could be a good resource for other municipalities. The full project will be put on CDTC's webpage.
· CDTC believes that preserving the regional identity of the Mohawk Hudson Bike Hike Trail should be a priority. Signs and placards such as the Canalway Trailblazers are equally important to trail identification but should not stand alone, rather compliment the green and white Mohawk Hudson Bike Hike Trail signs.
· Teresa LaSalle continues to work on the new Mohawk Hudson Bike Hike Map.
q Henrietta O’Grady reported the upcoming Mohawk Towpath Byway Duathlon in Clifton Park and Halfmoon on Sunday, October 19.
The next meeting is scheduled for 3 PM, October 28, 2003 at the Town of Colonie Operations Center. In addition to the above mentioned amenities (or lack of), Paul Russell suggested that bikes on buses be included, and that Dave Gehrs from the CDTA be invites.
SUBMITTED BY:
Don Odell, recorder