City will maintain parts of Empire State Trail
KINGSTON, N.Y. >> Kingston lawmakers have agreed for the city to be responsible for maintaining local portions of the Empire State Trail.
During a meeting Tuesday, the Common Council adopted a resolution by a voite of 8-0 to enter into a maintenance agreement with the state for portions of the trail within the city. Alderman Steven Schabot, D-Ward 8, was absent.
At a council caucus the evening before, Alderwoman Andrea Shaut said the state would construct sections of the Empire State Trail within the city. She said once the construction is complete, the city would have 15 days to inspect the work. After that point, the city would take ownership of the maintenance of those sections of trail, Shaut, D-Ward 9, said.
When completed, the Empire State Trail is to be a continuous 750-mile route spanning the state from New York City to Canada, and from Albany to Buffalo, creating the longest multi-use state trail in the nation.
A portion of the Empire State Trail will go from the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, along Greenkill Avenue and Route 32 in the city, and to the Kingston Point Rail Trail and beyond.
Kristen Wilson, director of the city’s Office of Grants Management, has said much of the trail in the city is to include painted markings on roads and the widening of shoulders, as well as the construction of sidewalks along a portion of state Route 32, from Amy Kay Parkway to the area of Klingberg Avenue. The sidewalks would be on the same side of the road as Golden Hill and the Institute for Family Health, she said.
There also would be a bidirectional bicycle lane created on Greenkill Avenue that would include the planting of new street trees, Wilson said. She said part of the trail would also go down Broadway, where the city is already planning a streetscape project that includes the creation of a bicycle lane.