COUNTY EXECUTIVE TAKES ACTION TO MAKE THE STREETS SAFER FOR STUDENTS WALKING AND BICYCLING TO SCHOOL

Posted September 9, 2010

 

Residents request action; the County Executive responds.

Kingston, NY – Ulster County Executive Mike Hein offered an amendment to Ulster County’s Draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), enabling the design of the South Putt Corners Road Shoulder Widening and Repaving Project to begin by the end of this year, instead of waiting until 2014. This will help to ensure that New Paltz High School students can safely walk or bike to school. The County Executive thanked the New Paltz Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee for circulating a Make South Putt Corners Road Safer  petition and the residents of New Paltz and Gardiner for expressing their need for safer streets. The County Executive received their request, understood its importance and offered this amendment in response to the concerns expressed by area residents.

According to the County Executive, "I am pleased that UCTC was able to find the necessary funds to begin this project and that the amendment was accepted while allowing the County to continue to meet the other priorities for its transportation system. The amendment continues my administration’s responsiveness to the entire County’s transportation needs. In the New Paltz community specifically, that includes UCAT shuttle bus service, development of park and ride facilities, and repaving of county roads."

 

"I am very happy that the County Executive was able procure funding and expedite this process," said Ulster County Legislator Hector S. Rodriguez. "New Paltz Town Supervisor Toni Hokanson, members of the New Paltz Bicycle Committee and I worked very hard and are all grateful that this is coming to fruition."

 

South Putt Corners, an alternative to Main Street in New Paltz, lacks shoulders and has an increasingly heavy traffic volume. The new police station on South Putt Corners is expected to add to the traffic, as well.

 

The next steps for the South Putt Corners Road Project will be to develop a full scale project proposal acceptable for the use of federal funds. In order to ensure the project that is developed meets the needs of this community, the County Executive will establish an advisory team from the community.

 

 

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