FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 8, 2005
CANAL CORPORATION AND TOWN OF PITTSFORD ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT
ON CANALWAY TRAIL REALIGNMENT
New Trail Route Improves Safety, Provides Off-Road Alternative During Peak
Hours
The New York State Canal Corporation and the Town of Pittsford today announced that an agreement has been reached on re-aligning a segment of the Canalway Trail in the vicinity of the Canal Maintenance shops west of Monroe Avenue that had posed safety concerns for trail users. The agreement paves the way for plans to be developed for the project.
Canal Corporation Director Carmella R. Mantello and Pittsford Town Supervisor William Carpenter were joined by local and State officials, trail advocates and members of the community in making the announcement.
“Today’s announcement is another positive example of what can be achieved when the State and local governments work together for the benefit of the community,” Director Mantello said. “The agreement to realign the Canalway Trail in Pittsford will improve the safety of trail users and is another step forward in our efforts to create a world class recreation resource along the Canal System. As with many Canalway Trail projects and other regional initiatives, partnerships such as the one forged between the Canal Corporation and the Town of Pittsford are vital to the Canal Corridor’s success.”
Supervisor William Carpenter said, “I commend Director Mantello and the Canal Corporation for their willingness to listen to the Town’s concerns and develop a viable alternative that will benefit Trail users and the entire community. I look forward to working with the Canal Corporation on future projects in the Town of Pittsford that will enhance our enjoyment of this tremendous recreational resource.”
Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks said, “The Erie Canal is one of our
community’s greatest natural resources and the Canalway Trail has become one of
our community’s greatest recreational resources. I thank Governor George Pataki
and Canal Corporation Director Carmella Mantello for their support in helping to
further enhance the safety and enjoyment of the trail for all those who use it.”
Canalway Trails Association of New York President, Keith Kroon said, “I am happy
to see an improvement in the safety conditions on the Canalway Trail in
Pittsford. This has been an issue for many years. Thanks to Director Mantello
and Supervisor Carpenter's efforts, a satisfactory solution has been found.”
The proposal will realign the existing Canalway Trail route, which abruptly
directs trail users onto Brook Road in order to bypass the Canal Corporation and
New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) maintenance facilities. The
realignment will result in a completely off-road trail link during peak trail
hours (weekday evenings and weekends) between Monroe Avenue and the existing
canal side trail west of the Canal Corporation maintenance facility. During
off-peak trail hours (7:30 am to 4:30 pm weekdays) an alternate, improved
on-road route will be utilized.
The Town of Pittsford has received $400,000 in federal Transportation Enhancement funds for the design, survey and construction of the project. The Canal Corporation and NYSDOT have agreed to each contribute $34,333 toward the local match required to receive federal funding for the project.
DOT Regional Director Charles E. Moynihan said, “We are pleased to be a part of this collaborative effort with the Canal Corporation and the Town of Pittsford. The trail improvements will make using this section of the Canalway Trail a more enjoyable experience for all, and hopefully will encourage others in the community to take advantage of this wonderful resource.”
The trail re-alignment proposal will compliment the $35 million Canal
Revitalization program announced by Governor George E. Pataki in 2002 to
complete the Erie Canalway Trail linking the Hudson River and Lake Erie. More
than half of the 348-mile Erie Canalway Trail is now complete.
The New York State Canal Corporation recently announced the official opening of a newly rehabilitated 9-mile Canalway Trail segment between Long Pond Road in Greece and Lock 32 in Pittsford. The $1.6 million project was funded with Federal Transportation Enhancement funds administered by NYSDOT. The project features a 10-12 foot wide asphalt surface trail and informational sign kiosks at the trailhead near Long Pond Road in Greece, along the Canalway Trail east of Genesee Valley Park and at Lock 32 in Pittsford.
The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles across New York State, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history and culture.
In late May 2005, Governor Pataki unveiled his vision for establishing the Erie Canal Greenway and, ultimately, the Empire State Greenway, connecting the Niagara, Erie and Hudson River Greenways. The Canal Corporation and an Inter-Agency Task Force conducted an extensive outreach campaign throughout the summer and fall to gather input and ideas, and develop a comprehensive set of recommendations to create the new Erie and Empire State Greenways and examine certain roles and responsibilities currently assigned to the Canal Corporation. The recommendations will be delivered in a report to the Governor in December 2005.
To obtain a free map of the New York State Canalway Trail System, please call 1-800-4CANAL4. To learn more about the Canalway Trail System, visit the Canal Corporation’s Website at www.canals.state.ny.us/canalwaytrail/.
-30-