Saratoga Springs gets $1.9 million sidewalks grant

PHOTOGRAPHER: Erica Miller

Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly lauded the federal award for sidewalks in the city.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The city of Saratoga Springs has received a $1.9 million federal grant to construct sidewalks at a number of locations around the city as part of an effort to make the community more pedestrian-friendly.

The “Missing Links” program was included in the city’s 2019 capital spending program, with work to be done over the next three years. The city will be required to put up a $380,000 share of money.

The work will include constructing sidewalks in areas deemed in need of them, and creating of accessible crosswalks, bus passenger waiting areas, stormwater management, signage, trees and curbing, city officials said.

The work will be done along parts of eight streets. Sidewalks will be built on both sides of East Avenue between North Broadway and Excelsior Avenue; on one side of First Street between North Broadway and State Street; one side of Third Street between North Broadway and State Street; one side of State Street between First and Third; one side of Seward Street between Pearl and Morgan streets; one side of Grand Avenue between Hyde Street and Glenham Road, crossing West Avenue; one side of Vanderbilt Avenue; and one side of West Fenlon between between South Broadway and Route 50.

The majority of construction is expected to take place in 2021, after detailed engineering design work is completed, according to Capital District Transportation Committee documents.

The work is part of a multi-year “Complete Streets” initiative, and on a list of projects given funding approval by the CDTC earlier this month.

For other parts of its initiative, the city has already obtained a $2.92 million grant to construct the Geyser Road bicycle-pedestrian trail from the Milton town line to Saratoga Spa State Park, including a new signal and pedestrian crossings at the Geyser Road-Route 50 intersection, and $2.06 million toward construction of the Greenbelt trail from Lake Avenue along High Rock and Excelsior avenues to Northway Exit 15.

“These are large awards for productive and valuable projects,” said Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly. She credited the city Planning Office and development and sustainability coordinator with helping the city obtain the funds.

At its June 18 meeting, the City Council also approved an easement with the Saratoga Springs City School District needed for construction of the Geyser Road trail, which is expected to start this year. The trail will run past the Geyser Road Elementary School.

A public hearing on the capital spending for the Geyser Road Trail will take place at the July 2 City Council meeting, with the city expected to award construction bids soon thereafter.

Reach Gazette reporter Stephen Williams at 518-395-3086, [email protected] or @gazettesteve on Twitter.