They say that the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Well, the distance of the proposed bike/pedestrian trail from the Rye train station to Playland is only 2.65 miles, but it’s taken over two years to get to the end of the preliminary planning stage. That’s a long first step.
By Bill Lawyer
They say that the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Well, the distance of the proposed bike/pedestrian trail from the Rye train station to Playland is only 2.65 miles, but it’s taken over two years to get to the end of the preliminary planning stage. That’s a long first step.
Back in 2006 Westchester County applied for a federal grant through the New York State Department of Transportation to build a safe, scenic pathway. The County was awarded 80% funding for the $2 million project, and will cover the remaining costs.
It took another two years for the grant contracts to be completed and a design firm to be hired. Thus “first step” planning began in earnest back in 2010.
The County hired the RBA design team, with landscape architect Alex Berryman as the principal designer for the project. Robert Lopane is the County Planning Department’s liaison with the RBA Group.
After two years, the project team completed its site analysis and design, and a preliminary plan has been submitted to the DOT. Concurrently, the County Planning Department scheduled a public forum to report on the various aspects of the project and answer any questions that people might have.
That forum was held recently at Rye City Hall. In attendance was a small but very engaged audience of community officials, residents, and one self-described “jealous” visitor from Larchmont. She wished that her community could have the kinds of pedestrian and bicycle paths envisioned for Rye.
The Tri-State Transportation Council, an advocacy group for alternative transportation approaches supports the pathway. They say it would “provide a safe route for bicyclists and pedestrians to get to the popular Playland amusement park and the future Westchester Children’s Museum. Though Bee-Line runs bus service to the venue during the summer, many visitors find its limited schedule a deterrent, making access to the park without a car difficult. The proposed pathway would provide a viable transportation choice for the 850,000 visitors to Playland each year.”
At the forum, Mr. Berryman gave a slide presentation that included maps showing the location of the proposed pathway. He then zeroed in on detailed schematics of how the various components of the path would be designed for safety, clarity, and the provision of buffers between the pathways and adjoining residential properties. The route is divided into three segments, with the first two involving cyclists and pedestrians traveling along roads shared by motor vehicles.
Mr. Berryman stressed that safety and clarity were the primary criteria in selecting these route, rather than “shortness.”
Thus starting at the northbound side of the Rye train station, the route goes down to 2nd Street, then right onto Purdy Avenue continuing straight onto Theodore Fremd. They avoided using McCullough Place because it’s frequently congested with commuter traffic. And they keep the route on Theodore Fremd, instead of using the Hammond Rd shortcut to the Old Post Road, because of less safe intersections there.
The major improvement in the existing trailway system will be the construction of a path parallel to Playland Parkway that runs from Old Post Road to Boston Post Road. This will be built on County right-of-way land.
In addition, they will be widening and re-grading the Parkway path from North Street to Playland to eight feet. And, they will be adding amenities such as a separate bike/pedestrian bridge over Blind Brook, benches, “sharrows” on Theodore Fremd, plantings, and informational signs. Sharrows are “shared route arrows” that are painted on the streets.
Among those speaking in support of the plan were Rye residents Steve Cadenhead, Russ Gold, and Ralph Vellone. Mr. Cadenhead said that while the project is designed for people coming to Rye by train, “most of the benefit will go to Rye residents who will use it year round.”
Beechwood Lane residents Andrea Romstad and Bill Holley noted that their house is adjacent to the pathway as it goes from Milton toward Midland. They expressed concerns about the safety of the Milton-Parkway intersection, and recommended a buffer to protect their privacy as well as that of other homeowners along the pathway.
County Planner Lopane agreed that they would work with neighbors to come up with a solution. He suggested they visit the North and South County Trailways, where similar concerns were addressed to the residents’ satisfaction.
A concern voiced by Mr. Gold was the importance of maintaining the pathway along the parkway. The existing pathway was originally four feet wide, but it is overgrown and washed away in some places, making it unsafe.
Mayor Doug French thanked all the people who helped guide the planning process. He noted that the project started as “top down” but now was “bottom up”.
Councilwoman Suzanna Keith praised the collaborative efforts of the City, the YMCA, and residents in making this part of Rye’s Complete Streets project.
County Legislator Judy Myers said she would “fast track” the project, in hopes that construction could start in the summer of 2013. Once the preliminary plan is approved by DOT, step two of the journey is the final design plan – hopefully by the fall. Another public hearing will be held at that time.
The 42-page presentation, complete with maps and designs, can be viewed at http://planning.westchestergov.com/images/stories/pdfs/playlandpkwypathwaypres.pdf.
