FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2020
City of Kingston Seeks Input on Two Infrastructure Projects
KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce that the City of Kingston’s new engagement website has two new projects open for comment.
The Pedestrian Action Safety Plan is intended to improve the City’s walkability, which includes upgrades and adjustments to sidewalks, roads, and intersections to increase pedestrian safety. This fall, with funding from the New York State DOT's Pedestrian Safety Action Plan Program, seven key intersections across Kingston will be upgraded to ensure safety, whether on foot, riding a bike, or in a vehicle:
- Joy's Lane at Municipal Stadium Road
- Broadway at McEntee
- Broadway at Yosman Towers
- Broadway at Delaware Avenue
- Broadway at Andrew Street
- North Front at Crown Street
- Albany Avenue at Maiden Lane
These intersections were chosen due to high pedestrian traffic and an above average risk for accidents. Potential improvements include the extension of curb lines to shorten long crossing distances, the addition of sidewalk ramps and retroreflective signs, and upgrades to existing crosswalk markings and pedestrian signals.
“I'm very pleased to see these pedestrian safety improvements at two particularly dangerous Ward 2 intersections--Joys Lane at Dietz Stadium and the crossovers at N. Front Street and Crown Street,” said Douglas Koop, Alderman Ward 2.
Ward 9 Alderwoman Michele Hirsch said, “I’m excited to see the city moving forward with the Pedestrian Action Safety Plan. Kingston is a historic city that was literally built for walking and we should support efforts to make our intersections safer for pedestrians. In Ward 9 especially, where Kingston High School intersects with SUNY Ulster, the HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley Hospital campuses on Broadway and Mary’s Avenue, together with Yosman Tower and the many new businesses that have sprung up on the Broadway corridor in recent years, we should be encouraging residents to walk to their destination as safely as possible.”
Proposed designs are available for feedback at EngageKingston/pedestrian-safety-action-plan. Comments will be open until June 26.
The Wilbur Avenue Paving Project will correct drainage issues on Wilbur Avenue (NYS Route 213), which have caused deterioration of the road and resulted in hazardous driving conditions. The project includes two 11-foot travel lanes with 3-foot shoulders being constructed along the proposed roadway section. Gutters, swales, and culverts will be added to better direct storm water runoff to the Twaalfskill Creek. Guardrails and signage will be upgraded and the roadway will be paved from south of Greenkill Avenue to north of West O’Reilly.
Construction is tentatively scheduled for April to September 2021. More information and design plans are posted at EngageKingston.com/wilburave. Comments will be open until July 15, 2020.
“Even through these difficult times, we continue to move forward on projects to improve many aspects of life in the City of Kingston,” said Mayor Noble. “It’s important that we keep these projects moving forward, but we want to make sure we hear the community’s feedback as we do so. I encourage residents to visit Engage Kingston and see all the projects we are currently working on and all the different ways you can contribute.”