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Phase 2 Of Multi-Use Recreation Trail Plan Presented To City Officials And Residents

Proposed Phase 2 map Saranac River Trail

Across our region, communities have been rethinking their relationship with their bodies of water. Last night, the city of Plattsburgh held a public information session on a plan to create a two-and-a-half mile multi-season recreation trail along the Saranac River in the center city area.

The Saranac River flows through the city of Plattsburgh, but for years has been underutilized as a recreational and tourism asset.  City officials are working to change that.  

Phase Two of the Saranac River Trail proposes a 10-foot wide multi-use trail from City Hall Place down Durkee Street to a new bridge.  Once across the river, the path continues around the oxbow and crosses the river again at the existing Saranac Street Bridge.  The trail then extends along the opposite shore of the river to Margaret Street.

Stantec Consulting Project Manager Jeff Johns presented an overview of Phase 2 to the city council and the public Thursday evening in City Hall.  “The primary objective of the project is to extend the existing Saranac River Trail to both the Stafford Middle School as well as the downtown city of Plattsburgh. So we’re proposing to do that in several different ways.  And we’re proposing a new 10 foot wide bike path that runs from the existing terminus of the Phase 1 Trail back behind the Police Department and connecting to Pine Street.”

City Engineer Kevin Farrington explained there are some short-term modifications to the trail.    “The really cool part about this project is that it takes the Saranac River Trail and it brings it right to the downtown business corridor.  Since the city already owns property around the perimeter of that big NYSEG cleanup site it’s actually a perfect use of that riverfront property.  When NYSEG is pulling out and finishing their work on that site then we’ll be able to put that paved path in right along the river and you’ll have all those beautiful views of that recently remediated river.”

The path of the trail will be temporarily redirected along Caroline Street until the New York State Electric and Gas Corporation completes the remediation project.  The existing Saranac Street footbridge is closed. It was to be rebuilt, but deterioration is so severe designers are recommending replacing it with a pre-manufactured span.

Friends of the Saranac River Trail President Jesse Feiler says it’s the river that makes the trail unique.   “More and more people are recognizing that streets are not just for cars and trucks. They have to be for people and for bikes and for skateboards. For many, many people this is no longer a radical idea. It’s part of really a worldwide movement as people are recognizing that cars are one form of transportation.”

City Engineer Kevin Farrington adds that beyond recreation, the new trail provides safe transportation options for residents.   “The Saranac River Trail will connect the city high school, the college and Stafford Middle School.  We call it the Safe Route to School or the Middle School Connector. We don’t have bussing in the city of Plattsburgh.  Parents want to know that there’s a safe way to get there.  And that’s what we’re really doing is we’re providing a safe, dedicated off-road bicycle path. It goes right behind the police department.”

Plattsburgh Mayor James Calnon says most of the cost to create the trail has been paid through grants or volunteer contributions to create what he calls a tremendous asset for the city.   “Tourism is clear.  People come to the smaller communities for their natural resources. So I think it’s an important part of tourism.  Economically I think the biggest economic impact is it makes us the kind of community that people want to live in and that means that they want to work in. And so it really is attracting businesses and their employees.”

Total construction costs as currently designed is $2.245 million.  A final design report will be submitted to the New York State Department of Transportation in late October or early November. If clearance is received by the state agency and the Plattsburgh Common Council, construction would begin next summer and be completed in July 2017.

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