New hiking, biking path coming to Schenectady

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A new sidewalk and a new hiking and biking trail are coming to Schenectady.

The City Council on Tuesday voted to award a $1.66 million contract to Callanan Industries, which will construct the new paths.

One project will put sidewalks on McClellan Street from Kingston Avenue to Nott Street. That project also will include crossings and signal improvements in a corridor heavily used by students walking to and from Schenectady High School and Zoller Elementary School.

Money for the sidewalk job will come from grant dollars awarded by the state Safe Routes to School program.

The other project will complete the connection from Central Park to McClellan Street with a new hiking-biking lane. That path will be part of a larger trail project designed to link Upper Union Street and Central Park to Vale Park and downtown Schenectady.

The Central Park work will be eligible for an 80 percent reimbursement from the state Department of Transportation.

“We expect these projects to start next spring and finish up by mid-summer of 2018,” City Engineer Chris Wallin said in a prepared statement.

Karen Corona, a spokeswoman for the Schenectady City School District, said there is always concern when safe passage does not exist for students.

“We’re extremely happy and grateful that walking conditions are improved in that area,” Corona said. “We’re always pleased when the conditions are improved and safety is enhanced for our students. So to us, this is a great thing. There is nothing in there we would not want for our students.”

Reach Gazette reporter Jeff Wilkin at 518-395-3124, [email protected] or @jeffwilkin1 on Twitter.