Residents and local officials celebrated the first phase of sidewalk installed along Feura Bush Road last week.
A ribbon cutting was held on Wednesday, Nov. 12. Residents from the nearby Colonial Acres neighborhood were in attendance, along with Bethlehem Town Board members, members of the Chamber of Commerce and Highway Superintendent Brent Meredith.
“We have received an overwhelming positive response, and I think it’s clear residents want sidewalks where we can add them,” said Supervisor John Clarkson. “We have to keep eye on the money involved, but providing safe pedestrian routes is a fundamental town service, so we’re going to keep looking at that.”
Clarkson said Bethlehem has been ranking the town’s need of sidewalks since 2009, and the area of Feura Bush Road had ranked high on the list for some time. However, town resources had not been allocated to new sidewalks, which meant only bits and pieces of new paths had been installed over the year.
Pedestrian safety had also been a growing concern for some time, as Glenmont is becoming a more populated.
Installation of more sidewalks in Glenmont was a major component of Clarkson’s past two State of the Town addresses. Last year, the supervisor said he wanted to place a greater emphasis on completing the goals of the town’s comprehensive plan and to enhance pedestrian safety.
The entire project was expected to cost about $450,000, with $100,000 coming from a state grant. The town board approved the bond to pay for the remainder of the project in July.
In 2013, the town received grant money through the state’s Local Government Performance and Efficiency Program. The town was given $776,107 for “departmental restructuring of the town’s payment system and maintenance staff.” The grant is paid out over three years, with some of the money set aside by the town to pay for capital projects and some used for temporary tax relief of the town’s EMS services.
The cost of the project did not include the amount for labor, since most of the work will be done in-house. An easement agreement also had to be worked out between the town and one homeowner for the project to move forward.
The second portion of the project is expected to be completed next year. Additional sidewalks will be installed along Feura Bush Road, from Elsmere Avenue to Elm Avenue. New crosswalks will be also installed to help guide pedestrians, along with the appropriate signage.
Residents Ed and Maryanne Bender told Clarkson and other town officials at the event they were very excited to finally see the installation of the new sidewalk, since they can now walk to go shopping or for a cup of coffee in Bethlehem Center. They also said it will be safer for their grandchildren, who live a few large blocks away, to come visit them.
“We were very sincere in what we said to them,” said Ed Bender. “This has been need for some time.”
Clarkson said he has been getting a similar response from other residents, but it also increases the number of calls from those in other areas of town also wanting sidewalks installed or fixed. The issue is the amount of money it takes to do so.
The supervisor previously said he is also in talks with the state Department of Transportation to hopefully get the speed limit reduced on Feura Bush Road. It is now 40 mph, which may be too high of a speed now that it is expected more pedestrians will be using the crosswalks.
Kenwood sidewalks
Construction is also taking place along Kenwood Avenue as new ramps are installed at intersections of sidewalk.
Meredith said this is being done by the state DOT to comply with new ADA regulations. Anytime a road is repaved, the sidewalks must also be fixed so they are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Gradual ramps are installed for easier accessibility, along “detectable warning” panels to help those with vision impairments feel they are about to transition from sidewalk to street.
About 20 intersections along the street are being changed. The work should be done before winter begins.
