City may borrow more for Empire State Trail

The city may borrow another $37,000 to help fund the installation of sidewalks along a section of state Route 32 that will be part of the Empire State Trail.

Kristen Wilson, director of the city’s Office of Grants Management, told members of the Common Council’s Finance

and Audit Committee Wednesday, Jan. 29, that bids for the work had come in higher than anticipated by the state Department of Transportation.

Wilson said the project is being managed by the state agency, but the city is required to fund 20 percent of the cost of the sidewalks to be installed on the west side of Route 32 between Amy Kay Parkway and Klingberg

Avenue.

The city had requested the sidewalks be included in that section of the Empire State Trail because it is “super dangerous” for people to walk along the roadway there, Wilson said.

The council had previously authorized the city to borrow $107,000 to help fund the sidewalk installation.

Wilson said the city’s share of the project is now $143,485. She said the entire state project in that area, including the sidewalk installation, would costs about $2.5 million.

At Wilson’s request, the committee moved forward a resolution authorizing the city to amend the previous bond authorization to include an additional $37,000. That resolution must still be voted on by the full Common Council, which meets again Tuesday, Feb. 4.

Once the sidewalks are installed, their maintenance will follow the city’s current policy, Wilson said. She said that means property owners where the sidewalks are located would be responsible for their maintenance.

A portion of the Empire State Trail will extend from the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, along Greenkill Avenue and Route 32 in the city, and connect to the Kingston Point Rail Trail and beyond.

Once completed, the Empire State Trail would be a continuous 750-mile route spanning the state from New York City to Canada, and from Albany to Buffalo — the longest multiuse state trail in the nation.