Plan would make road into a ‘complete street’
Schwenk Drive will one day become a so-called “complete street” if city officials have their way.
If the city has its way, Schwenk Drive — a stretch of roadway that cuts through Uptown — will one day become a so-called “complete street.”
But it will cost $987,102 to get it done, according to the city’s Strategic Investment Plan.
Recently, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the Schwenk Drive project would be awarded just that amount from the statefunded Downtown Revitalization Initiative, known as the DRI, to make the project happen.
“A complete street is a street designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders,” the investment plan says. “. . . Work would include lane reconfiguration, signal upgrades, intersection upgrades (including ADA improvements and bulbouts), the creation of a new two-way bicycle lane (westbound), and the creation of a new parking lane (eastbound).”
Specifically, the project would include these improvements and the cost of each, including construction-related ones:
• Milling and new pavement, $250,000.
• Design and engineering, $128,195.
• Concrete cub and sidewalk replacement, $191,000.
• Traffic Signal Modifications, $80,000. • Drainage work, $39,000. • Pavement Markings & Signing (Pavement Stripes and Painted Bike Lanes), $38,400.
• Maintenance of traffic and contractor mobilization, $32,049.
• Construction survey, $25,639. • Landscaping, $22,500. • Earthwork, $19,875. The detailed work plan includes the possibility of adding “bulb-outs” to help shorten the crossing area and allow for additional benches and vegetation; sidewalk amenities such as benches, bike racks, trash receptacles and recycling receptacles; and adding additional open space amenities and improvements in locations in publicly-owned right-a-ways.
The project might also include kiosks, gateways, install power hookups, planter boxes, bioswales, rain gardens, permeable pavements and rainwater harvesting on appropriate sites.
The Strategic Investment Plan also points to $160,244 budgeted for contingency costs involved in the Schwenk Drive reconfiguration.
In addition, the document says that there is another important aspect to the project along Schwenk Drive, which runs from Washington Avenue to Fair Street.
“An important goal of this project is to enable future linkage into the Kingston Greenline system by allowing for future connections at Westbrook Land and Washington or Hurley Avenues,” the plan says.
The Kingston Greenline is a vision for a network of urban trails, bikeways, water trails, walkable sidewalks and complete streets that “provides residents and visitors a healthy, fun and sustainable way to connect with Kingston’s rich cultural, historical, commercial and recreational resources.”
The plan says the Greenline will serve as a hub for the growing system of rail trails throughout Ulster County and beyond, eventually linking from the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson River Valley to New York City.
The Schwenk Drive improvements can also provide a boost to business.
“The streetscape improvement project will create a desirable, walkable, pedestrian-friendly connection through the Stockade Business District and will serve as a catalyst for future business growth and active recreation on Schwenk Drive.”