Spot Improvement Projects

 

 

Spot Improvement Program Introduction

 

At its July 31, 1997 meeting, the CDTC Policy Committee voted to endorse the 1997-02 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), which included as project RG41 a "Spot Improvements for Bicycle and Pedestrian Access" program.  This established an ongoing program that sets aside $100,000 per year of STP-Flex funds for projects whose scopes are too small for other programs like the TEA-21 Transportation Enhancements Program.  RG41 was replenished in both the 1999-04 and the 2001-06 TIP’s.

 

Spot Improvements are actions that address problems at specific locations such as intersections, short lengths of roadway, or single destinations (e.g., an office building or shopping center).  They can be distinguished from other bicycle and pedestrian-related projects such as development of new trails in that they bridge physical or functional gaps in the system rather than in and of themselves providing new routes.

 

The first project to be funded as a drawdown under RG41 was the Bikes on Buses program (T58).  This project was approved by the Planning Committee at its November 18, 1998 meeting.  Since that time, projects were awarded funding through two competitive rounds.  Round one began with a solicitation letter on January 12, 2000 calling for project proposals.  The submission deadline was March 3, 2000 and a total of 17 proposals were received.  After follow-up discussions with project sponsors and several discussions with the CDTC’s Planning Committee, the Committee approved funding for 13 projects as listed in Table 3 below. 

 

TABLE 3

 

SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FUNDED IN ROUND ONE

 

TIP#/PIN

SPONSOR

PROJECT

A409/1755.72

Albany (City)

Bike Racks

A410/1755.73

Bethlehem

Sidewalks

A411/1755.74

Cohoes

Bike Racks

A412/1755.75

Colonie (Town)

Mohawk-Hudson Bike Trail

A413/1755.76

Green Island

Green Island Bridge Sidewalks

A414

Menands

Wards Lane Sidewalks

SA177

Malta

Malta Trail Improvements

SA178

Clifton Park

Arongen-Shenendehowa Public Library Multi-Use Path

SA179

Saratoga Springs

Station Lane Sidewalks

SA180/1755.81

Stillwater

Crosswalk and Four Pedestrian Signs

S153/1755.78

Niskayuna

Bike Trail Repairs

S154

Schenectady

Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail

S155/1755.79

Scotia

Sidewalks

 

 

Round two began with a solicitation letter on May 1, 2002.  The submission deadline was July 31, 2002 and a total of 17 proposals were received.  A review committee with representatives from CDTC and NYSDOT Region One was established.  After reviewing each of the proposals, the review committee ranked each project and offered three options to the Planning Committee.  On September 4, 2002 the Planning Committee chose to program the eight top ranked projects as listed in Table 4 below. 

 

 

TABLE 4

 

SPOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FUNDED IN ROUND TWO

 

TIP#/PIN

SPONSOR

PROJECT

A422

Voorheesville

Railroad Pedestrian Crossing

A423

Guilderland

Carmen Road Sidewalks

R228

Hoosick Falls

Village Pedestrian/Cyclist Crosswalks

SA190

Schuylerville

Green Street Connector Sidewalk Reconstruction

SA191

Hadley

Hadley Sidewalk Improvement

SA192

Malta

Pedestrian Improvements

SA193

Milton

Property Streetscape Improvements

S160

Schenectady County

State/Washington Intersection Pedestrian Improvements

 

All Spot Improvement Projects are funded with a maximum of 80% federal funds and are capped at the time of project programming.  In cases where sponsors committed more than the minimum required 20% local match, the project was capped at the amount of federal funding requested.  Any cost increases above 80% of the original project cost estimate or the approved level of federal funding will be absorbed by the project sponsor.  Any cost decreases cannot have the effect of increasing the federal share above 80%.