State funds for a system of bicycle trails around the city of Batavia, which the governor's office announced Monday, are actually eamarked for sidewalk replacements and repairs, not biking trails, according to City Manager Jason Molino.
The Healthy Schools Corridor project is slated to get $720,657 for sidewalk improvements on Summit Street, Liberty Street, South Liberty Street and Washington Avenue.
Today's press release:
With a $720,657 grant from the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funded by the Federal Highway Administration and administered by NYS Dept. of Transportation, the City of Batavia Public Works Department will be able to expand sidewalk replacements along Summit and Liberty streets and Washington Avenue.
The project will include the removal of old sidewalks, installation of new sidewalks, handicap access ramps, high visibility crosswalks and selective tree removal and will be matched with $240,219 of City funds. In total the $960,000 project will include over 12,300 linear feet of improved sidewalks providing safer routes for pedestrians and bicyclists connecting United Memorial Medical Center, Batavia Middle School, St. Joe’s School, the Downtown Corridor and Jackson Elementary School.
“Improving sidewalks has been a priority for City Council and this grant will allow us to do even more over the next few years” said City Council President Brooks Hawley. “With this grant we will be able to make our sidewalks safe for our residents and children.”
The City has approximately 73 miles of sidewalk, and in 2011 it was estimated that more than 20 percent of the sidewalk system needed repair. The City has made a concerted effort since to 2011 and has replaced over 26,500 linear feet, or almost 7 percent of the sidewalk system. This includes more than 130 curb ramps.
“This grant will allow the City to more than quadruple our annual effort,” said Sally Kuzon, director of Public Works.
Sixth Ward Councilwoman Rosemary Christian and longtime advocate for sidewalk improvements added, “I’m ecstatic about getting this grant. Every year I ask for more and more sidewalk improvements and now we are going to do almost $1 million in one year. Our residents deserve it.”
TAP provides funding for non‐motorized transportation alternatives such as bicycle and pedestrian facilities, safe routes to schools projects, trails, and other infrastructure improvements to the transportation system. The City applied for the grant in June 2014 and was one of seven communities in the nine-county Finger Lakes Region to receive an award.
So where did the original,
So where did the original, erroneous information come from? That the grant was for bicycle trails?
I have just one bone to pick regarding the corrected information here. It says "providing safer routes for pedestrians and bicyclists"... isn't it illegal for bicycles to ride on city sidewalks with the exception of youngsters 12 and under? It's surprising there aren't more bicycle/pedestrian accidents. What's it gonna take, a real serious injury or fatality, before the rule is enforced?
§ 159-2 Vehicles on sidewalks.
A. No person shall ride a bicycle on a sidewalk except a bicycle having solid tires and designed for and used by preteenage children, or except to cross same.
§ 44-2 License required.
[Amended 4-13-1987]
It is unlawful for any person to operate or use a bicycle propelled wholly or in part by human power upon any of the streets or alleys of the city without a license therefor. The Chief of Police shall issue upon written application therefor, bicycle licenses, which will be a permanent license. Such license, when issued, shall entitle the licensee to operate such bicycle for which the license has been issued upon the streets and alleys, exclusive of sidewalks, in the city.
Times change Brian, when was
Times change Brian, when was the last time you saw someone ticketed for jaywalking or not crossing the street at the light or crosswalk? There are all sorts of laws that are on the books but outdated or unenforced.... Check these out, as I am sure if you were arrested or ticket for some of these you would be complaining just as loud...
https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/top-craziest-laws-still-on-the-books
The point is, they are still
The point is, they are still on the books, and there isw a reason why they are left on the books... they can be enforced at any time.
This is the problem with the SAFE Act. The opponents say it probably can't and won't be repealed, so they will simply unfund and not enforce it... that is until they decide to enforce it.
I can't answer that Brian,
I can't answer that Brian, why hasn't PA's law to stop every mile and fire a flare when driving at night been removed from the books. It is what it is and this is what happens sometimes in state and federal administrations.
You want change you gotta get out and vote, and vote for change. If that means stepping outside your comfort zone and voting for something other than major political parties then so be it. Otherwise your complaints about what our govt does or doesn't do is the same as complaining your feet are on fire but not removing your feet from the fire.