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Trail to link Schenectady parks
New 4.7-mile section will plug gap in biking path

First published in print: Monday, January 18, 2010

SCHENECTADY -- The county will soon embark on more than $2 million worth of new biking trail improvements that will plug a hole in the Mohawk Hudson Bike/Hike Trail and will link the city's Vale and Central parks.


The state Canal Corporation is overseeing a $1.7 million new section of the Mohawk Hudson trail that will link the path's end at the city's Stockade section with another piece that ends at Balltown Road in Niskayuna.............>>>>..............>>>>..............Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/AspS.....8/2010#ixzz0cxrWSMXV

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Schenectady County Receives
$4 Million in Stimulus Funding

Schenectady County has received nearly $4 million in stimulus funding to support the Schenectady County Youth Summer Job program, complete the Schenectady County
portion of the Mohawk/Hudson Bike-Hike trail, and repave County roads in Niskayuna.

Bike-Hike Trail
$1.7 million in Federal stimulus money to connect the entire County for the first time ever via the Mohawk–Hudson Bike/Hike Trail.  Chair Savage thanked the Governor for certifying the project for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“I want to thank Governor Paterson for providing this important funding through the Federal stimulus plan to help us complete a bike and hike trail through Schenectady County,” said Chair Savage. “The bike-hike trail has been a priority of mine and we’ve consistently worked to improve the trail for the enjoyment of all Schenectady County residents.

The new project funded will create a key 4.7 mile link in the trail starting at Washington Avenue in the Stockade and going all the way to Balltown Road in the Town of Niskayuna. The County previously obtained federal funding to connect the Rotterdam portion of the trail through SCCC to lower State Street in Schenectady.  The new connection will follow Union Street through the Stockade turning left on North Jay through Little Italy to Union College. This portion of the trail will be on-road with a special signage for hikers and bikers. The grant will also improve curbs, making them handicap accessible and improve intersection crossings. The next section of the trail (3.4 miles) is a dedicated off–road trail. It will be completely rebuilt as a wider trail with improved intersections and better drainage. It will connect from Union College to Balltown Road in Niskayuna.

The completion of a bike-hike trail through Schenectady County will provide an expanded recreational asset to be used by local residents and visitors to the County.

It will also make it possible to commute by bicycle to major employers such as Schenectady County Community College and the new Golub Corporation headquarters on Nott Street.

There is no local match for this funding and will be completed at no cost to Schenectady County taxpayers. The project will begin work this year with a fall 2010 expected completion date.

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Bike trail to link parks in Schenectady County

Spotlight Staff 01/21/10
Schenectady County will hold a public meeting on Monday, Jan. 25, at the Schenectady County Public Library's Central Branch on 99 Clinton St. to discuss the creation of a bike trail that will connect parks in Schenectady County from 7 to 9 p.m.

Schenectady County has received funding from the federal government in July of 2009, as a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to create a 4.7 mile trail that will connect Washington Avenue in the Stockade to Balltown Road in Niskayuna, according to a release from the county. The new connection will create a path that will go through Central Park, Vale Park and Downtown Schenectady. Construction on the bike path is scheduled for the summer of 2010. The county previously obtained federal funding to connect the Rotterdam portion of the trail through Schenectady County Community College to lower State Street in the City of Schenectady. The new section is a dedicated off road trail to connect Union College to Balltown Road.

The meeting is scheduled at the McChesney Room of the library and the purpose is to show the final designs for the project to the public.