Capital
District Transportation Committee
Bicycle
and Pedestrian Task Force
Record of
Meeting on January 13, 2004
Attendance: Mark Cashman (MHCC/LAB), Andy Labruzzo (Albany County Planning), Kevin
McLaughlin (N.Y.P.C.A.), Richard Nussbaum (Citizen) Don Odell (Retired Planner),
Barbara
Quint (Guilderland Pathways Committee), Robert Ritter (Louis Berger), Paul
Russell (Town of Colonie), John Stangle (Village of Menands), Ivan Vamos
(NYBC), Teresa La Salle (CDTC), Jason Purvis (CDTC)
1.0 AGENDA AND MEETING NOTES REVIEW
The December 2003 meeting minutes were approved.
2.0 PROJECTS/PROGRAMS AND OTHER UPDATES
3.0
ONGOING TASKS
3.1 Canalway Initiative: D. Odell
reported there was no new business to report.
The next meeting will be held Monday, January 26th, location
TBD.
3.2 Guilderland Pathways
Committee: B.
Quint noted that The Pathways Committee would be meeting that evening to plan
for the next year. They have received
further confirmation that the sidewalk master plan will be used as a guide for
neighborhood planning.
3.3
Mohawk Hudson Bike Hike Trail Map update: T. La Salle noted that she is
starting to work on the insets for the North-South layout. An updated map was passed around for review
of requested inset areas.
3.4 Greenway Linkage—Rensselaer County: J. Purvis noted that the study is moving along and that the SAC would
be meeting at the end of January. I. Vamos noted that the consultants will be
meeting with the Rensselaer County Sewer District on Monday, January, 19th. The consultants will also be meeting with
representatives from the Rensselaer Tech Park.
3.5 Patroon Greenway: The project will focus on a feasible routing option from the Pine
Bush Preserve through the Tivoli Preserve, to the Corning Preserve. T. La Salle reported that the Expressions of
Interest were due last week. A total of ten proposals were received. The consultant selection committee is
currently reviewing the proposals. T. La Salle is the main
contact for this project.
4.0 NEW BUSINESS
4.1
Department
of Health Walkable Community Workshops: J. Purvis reported that CDTC and NYSDOH are
organizing 5 local workshops. Possible
locations are: Arbor Hill, Saratoga Springs, Rotterdam, and Rensselaer. The proposed dates of the workshop are the
week of May 17th 2004. If you have any comments or questions
regarding the planned workshops, please contact Jason or Elaine Troy. For specific information regarding the Albany County sites, please
contact Andy Labruzzo.
J.
Purvis noted that CP Rail/D&H Rail has proposed the abandonment of a rail
line from Green Island to Cohoes. CDTC sent comments regarding the
identification of this area as a link in the recently completed Albany County
Connection Study Linkage Project.
J.
Purvis reported that the Toolbox Update Document will be the Bicycle/Pedestrian
component of CDTC’s Long Range Plan. This
means there is a stricter timeframe for updating the document. The Toolbox
subcommittee will continue to meet and will share draft documents with the Task
Force.
J.
Purvis noted that CDTC may look into trying to reconvene meeting with the
Bethlehem Pedestrian Safety group. He
will contact the Town Supervisor.
I.
Vamos noted that the NYS Thruway is looking at redesigning the Thruway from
Selkirk to Schenectady. He noted that the NYS Thruway needs to be
reminded o trail connection possibilities.
He has been in contact with Wendy Allen of the Thruway.
P.
Russell noted that the Town of Colonie may be paving the remaining
unpaved portion of the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail in the Town. P. Russell also noted that the Town has put
together a new Grants Committee.
J.
Stangle reported that the Village of Menands application for Estuary
money for trail connections near Schuyler Flatts was denied. The Village is now working with the Greenway
for a possible grant. J. Stangle also
reported that the Village will be using GPS to collect data on several trails
in the Village green space.
A. Labruzzo
gave an update on the status of the D&H Rail abandonment from the Port of Albany to Voorheesville. Albany County’s deadline has been
extended six months. The County has a
pending grant with NYS Parks for half of the cost of acquisition. Scenic Hudson is also working with the
County. If the County is successful in
obtaining the property they plan extensive public participation to ensure
public say in the future of the land use.
A.
Labruzzo also noted that according to Mike Franchini, Albany County DPW, the
County is on schedule regarding bike trail Enhancement funds.
5.0 UPCOMING EVENTS
-
The next CDTC Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force
meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February
10, 4:30 p.m. at the CDTC
Offices.