Mohawk Hudson Regional Canalway Trail Group Meeting

March 8, 2004 - Cohoes Visitor Center

Meeting Review

Attendance

NAME	REPRESENTING	ADDRESS	TELEPHONE NUMBER	E-MAIL ADDRESS
Jeff Swain	NYPCA Board		432-7470	jswain1@nycap.rr.com
Patrick Clear	ECOS			ecos@global2000.net
David-Iman Adler	NYPCA	29 Elk Street Albany, NY 12207	434-1583	dpadler@nypca.org
Jason Purvis	CDTC	5 Computer Dr. West Albany, NY 12205	458-2161	jpurvis@cdtcmpo.org
Eric Hamilton	Mohawk Towpath Byway		383-8565	ejh.bkh@juno.com
Dick Hurst	Waterford Canal Committee		283-9123	wfdcanharvc@aol.com
Ivan Vamos	New York Bicycling Coalition (NYBC)	13 Maple Lane South Loudonville, NY 12211	459-2026	ivanvamos@hotmail.com
Lou Rossi			221-3782	lourossi@nycap.rr.com
John DiMura	NYS Canal Corp	200 Southern Blvd. Albany, NY 12209	436-3034	John_Dimura@canals.state.ny.us
Elaine Troy	NYSDOH Healthy Heart	Frear Building 1 Fulton St. Troy, NY 12180	402-0723	eht01@health.state.ny.us

1. Minutes of the January 26 meeting were accepted as distributed. John DiMura asked for volunteers to take minutes. Eric Hamilton volunteered for the meeting.

2. Statewide Canalway Trail Celebration – John DiMura pointed out that June 5 is National Trails Day. It is desirable to make a statewide series of events along the Canalway corridor to bring attention to the fact that we are “More than Halfway There”, with competed trails along the Erie Canal connected across more than half the State. David-Iman Adler said that they have 18 events, so far, listed on an event web site http://www.nypca.org/canalway/celebration.shtml. These include events ranging from a community dog walk to trail clean up efforts to a chain of events across Monroe County to thank adopt-a-trail volunteers along the way.

Patrick Clear mentioned that ECOS will sponsor a bike ride from Schoharie Crossing to Canajoharie and return. Eric Hamilton announced that Clifton Park will have a family bike ride on Sunday June 6. Both will forward details to David.

3. East-West Connection Study – John DiMura said that the Canal Corporation has asked NYPCA to study connections between the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail, the Waterford Visitor’s Center, and the Hudson River Greenway. David-Iman Adler spread out a base map provided some additional background and asked for ideas and discussion. Alternates discussed by the group included:

1. Manor Avenue – Mohawk Street – Ontario Street.
2. Manor Avenue – Mohawk Street – Rt 32 Bridge – to Trail from Waterford Museum to Lock 2.
3. Old Flight of Locks through the City – Ontario Street to Peebles Island
4. Old Flight of Locks through the City – Bridge Street to Van Schaick Island

Lou Rossi suggested that all the alternatives could be used to make a network of options available for the trail user depending on what (s)he wanted to see. It was also noted that east of Manor Avenue the trail really deteriorates, but the City of Cohoes is planning to complete some major construction this summer. Waterford is also developing a park and trail to provide access to the current flight of locks.

The advantages and disadvantages of each of the above alternatives were discussed. A number of participants pointed out the difficulty crossing I-787 (with option 1, 3, and 4) and suggested avoiding such a crossing.

Things to consider in developing the plan:

q Parking and access. It was pointed out that there is plenty of parking within the City of Cohoes and more parking a Peebles Island, in Waterford at Fulton Street, Second Street, and at the Battery.

q CDTC Connection Study – Albany to Waterford

q Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway route

q Albany County - proposed rehabilitation of existing trail in Cohoes

q OPRHP – development of a trail along Delaware Ave. from Ontario Street to new Peebles Island Bridge.

q Route 470 Linkage plan by City of Cohoes

q DOT trailhead Maps

q Views of the Cohoes Falls from Cohoes or Saratoga County side.

David-Iman Adler wrapped up the discussion by saying that he would be making a more formal public presentation sometime in May with results of this effort published by the end of June.

4. Regional Updates

• Dick Hurst announced an event “Rediscover Peebles Island” June 12 and distributed copies of a flyer with all of Waterford Visitor’s Center events this coming travel season. He asked if the Canal Tour (early July) was planned to pass through Waterford. Answer was, “Yes.”
• World Canal Conference will be in St. Catherines, Ontario this summer.
• March 15 from 7 to 9 pm a public information meeting on a proposed paved bike/hike trail connecting Rensselear and Troy. Meeting will be at the Reformed Church, 706 Bloomingrove Drive (near Rt 4 just south of the Rt. 43 junction).
• Patrick Clear said that he is working on the Bike Hike Trail Guidebook for the Montgomery County Segment. He hopes to have it complete and published by National Trails Day.
• Jason Purvis reported that CDTC is working on the maps for the new printing of the Mohawk Hudson Bike Hike Trail for publication this spring. He also mentioned that all the MPO bike/pedestrian coordinators will have a working meeting with other state agencies March 27 in Syracuse.
• The Statewide Bike/Pedestrian Conference will be June 16 and 17 at the Clarion Hotel in Rochester. Costs are to be kept at a modest level to encourage more attendance by a broad cross section.
• Eric Hamilton announced that the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway Coalition, Inc. will be meeting on April 15 at 9:30 am at the Southern Saratoga County Chamber offices.
• Elaine Troy announced that the Wellspring Institute and others in Saratoga are sponsoring a local affiliate of “America on the Move.” The program advocates increased personal health by increasing daily steps by 2000 over your current number decreasing your caloric intake by 100 calories per day. The strategy should, help to prevent weight gain and fight obesity.
• Pedestrian Safety Road Show May 10, 11, and 12 in area communities including Rotterdam, Albany, Saratoga and Bethlehem.

6. Next Meeting – Monday, April 19, 2004, at the Waterford Visitor’s Center

SUBMITTED BY:

Eric Hamilton