Henry Street Pilot tests first cycle track downtown
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> The City of Saratoga Springs is completing the first two-way cycle track through the heart of downtown as a pilot project that began on Saturday, Sept.14 and will extend through Sunday, Sept. 29.
Henry Street is transformed from a two-way street into a oneway street with a two-way cycle track on one side of the road and dedicated street parking on the opposite side of the road.
This “pilot” project allows the City to test a low cost engineered design – one of three proposed - to create the urban segment of the Saratoga Greenbelt Trail from Lake Avenue to Spring Street.
By using short-term, low-cost, and scalable methods, the goal is to improve the safety of Henry Street for all users and make this section of Henry Street a more attractive corridor for cycling, walking, taking transit and enjoying downtown.
The Saratoga Greenbelt Trail (SGT) is a visionary 24 mile/39 km shared use path that forms a continuous loop connecting the city of Saratoga Springs.
The unique project has the potential to transform the community by creating a new green infrastructure for active transportation and recreation. The SGT will create a safe pathway for runners, bicyclists, pedestrians, skiers, snowshoers, dog walkers, and other trail users to travel around “The City in The Country”.
The trail will build upon Saratoga’s unique heritage of Health, History and Horses, with a design that highlights the local landscape, heritage and culture of Saratoga. The benefits of the trail will improve the economy, environment and quality of life for residents, visitors and businesses. Mayor Meg Kelly invites resident response over the two week pilot test.
“Through the city’s work developing the Comprehensive Plan, Recreation Master Plan, and Complete Streets Plan, we heard from residents who told us they would like safer places to cycle and more transportation choices. The Henry Street Pilot is an exciting approach to how the city can test bike and pedestrian infrastructure into our downtown before making permanent changes,” Kelly said
“In the next two weeks, we are hearing what residents have to say, responding to a variety of questions, collecting traffic data, and collecting survey results to include in our pilot findings.
“Hopefully, the pilot can be a model for our community as we work to incorporate safe, healthy, and equitable access to all transportation options.”
This project is the result of extensive community engagement that began in 2014 with the adoption of the Saratoga Greenbelt Trail Plan followed by the 2016 Complete Streets Plan.
The Saratoga Greenbelt Trail is a challenging project, but represents to some a significant legacy for future generations who will live, work and play in Saratoga Springs.
Trail usage currently exceeds 127,000 annual trips on Railroad Run alone. This urban segment will provide people on bikes with a designated space to ride along Henry Street in downtown while maintaining dedicated street parking and pedestrian accommodations on the sidewalk.
The pilot is supported by the Henry Street Business Association, the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, and the Saratoga Springs Public Library.