Earlier this summer, it was announced that the Canalway Trail cities of Buffalo and Utica received federally-funded RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) grants to enhance active transportation and improve connections to the Erie Canalway Trail/Empire State Trail. This is great news for the millions of visitors and residents that will benefit from this enhanced connectivity!
City of Buffalo
Transforming Main Street: Building Equity and Assuring Mobility through Sustainability
The City of Buffalo received $25 million to transform Main Street, with the goal of improving an approximate 2.5-mile corridor of Main Street between Goodell Street and Kensington Avenue. The project will transform the deteriorated 4-lane roadway into 3 lanes: one lane in each direction with a center turn lane. Using complete street design features, the new road design will include raised cycle tracks for bicycle travel as well as bump-outs, push buttons, countdown timers, and other measures to improve pedestrian crossing infrastructure. The project also maintains parking on both sides of Main Street and adds decorative lighting with LED bulbs. The improvements will bolster connectivity between the West and East sides of Main Street, as well as the City as a whole.
Specifically, this money will be spent on:
- Repaving and repairing the pothole problems between Goodell Street and Kensington Avenue, allowing for a new, safer traffic design.
- Adding new crosswalks and curbs with Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant ramps and signal infrastructure.
- Creating raised accessible bike lanes with barriers to prevent accidents.
- Improving the look of the roadway with benches, bike racks, signage, LED lighting, and green space.
- Showcasing local artists and artisans with commissioned works meant to highlight Buffalo’s rich cultural heritages.
The dedicated cycle tracks will expand active transportation options for Buffalo residents and make it easier for visiting trail users to explore the city.
City of Utica
North Genesee Street Gateway Bridge and Multi-Modal Connector Project
The New York State Department of Transportation received $18.2 million to transform N. Genesee St. into a gateway to downtown Utica. The project will replace two aging bridges that cross over the Mohawk River and Historic Erie Canal, connecting the business area and Erie Canalway Trail/Empire State Trail to the north with Utica’s downtown to the south. The new bridges will have 10-foot-wide multi-use paths on both sides of the corridor to ensure bicyclists and pedestrians are safe and have greater access to the economic and entertainment hubs of the city.
The project will provide better Utica residents with better access to outdoor recreation opportunities on the Empire State Trail, as well as make it easier for trail users to enter Utica and explore all that it has to offer, including its museums, historic architecture, stunning train station, and bike friendly businesses like Utica Coffee.
Learn more about these projects in the RAISE 2022 Fact Sheets.
Canalway Trail Times 