Richmondville Drafts Letter Supporting Pedestrian Path

RICHMONDVILLE — A letter from the Town of Richmondville signed by Town Supervisor Jeffrey Haslun makes a strong case for a $3 million grant requested from the New York State Department of Transportation for a paved pedestrian path along a new sewer line planned by the town.

The letter to Kimberly Schewtschenko of NYSDOT Region 9, drafted with the help of Engineer Brendon Becker, was read by Haslun at the Thursday, March 12 town board meeting and approved 4-0 by Jeffrey Haslun and Councilmen Eric Haslun, George Horning and Todd Sperbeck. Councilman Harry Rode was unable to attend the meeting.

The proposed paved path would be built in conjunction with the town's upcoming sewer improvement project estimated to cost between $12 million and $16 million that would provide public sewer service to the Warnerville part of the town along Route 7 between the Villages of Richmondville and Cobleskill.

The grant from NYSDOT, if approved, would be used to "construct pedestrian and bicycle improvements serving the Hamlet of Warnerville and the Cobleskill-Richmondville High School corridor," the letter states.

"The Warnerville area is an important gateway to the Town and serves a number of residents, businesses, and the Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School District (high school) campus," it continues. "Despite this activity, the area currently lacks safe and accessible pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. Residents, students and visitors must often travel along roadways without dedicated sidewalks or multi-use facilities, creating safety concerns _ particularly for students accessing the nearby school campus.

"This project will provide critical improvements to enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety and connectivity in this corridor. The proposed improvements will create a safer environment for students traveling to and from school, provide accessible walking and biking opportunities for local residents, and support future growth and revitalization in the Warnerville area."

The letter goes on to state how Town officials hope to mesh closely construction of the new path with the sewer improvement project.

"The Town of Richmondville is currently advancing a major infrastructure investment through the construction of a new municipal sewer system serving the Warnerville corridor," it reads. "The Town has intentionally coordinated this TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) proposal with the ongoing sewer improvements in order to maximize the efficiency of public investment and minimize disruption to the community. By pairing these projects together, the Town can ensure that the area is rebuilt with modern utilities while also incorporating pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure that will serve the community for decades to come.

"The Town of Richmondville is fully committed to the successful completion of the project (pedestrian path). As the project sponsor and applicant, the Town hereby commits to providing the required local matching funds in an amount of up to $300,000. These funds will be provided through either available Town general funds or through the issuance of a project bond, as authorized by the Town Board. The Town is prepared to meet all financial obligations necessary to implement and complete the project should TAP funding be awarded. The Town strongly believes this project represents a meaningful investment in public safety, accessibility and long-term community development."

As to the status of the sewer improvement project, Becker and Jeffrey Haslun have said that bid documents are being reviewed by the main funding agency (New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation) and if there are no problems with the review that bids can go out and hopefully be awarded in May or the first part of June.

During Privilege of the Floor at the March 12 meeting Eric Sperbeck, who owns three homes with seven apartments in Warnerville, expressed concern with the plan to charge per EDU (Equivalent Dwelling Unit) for new customers resulting from the sewer improvement project. Sperbeck said that could result in disproportionate costs for him as compared with other methods of billing.

"To be charged seven times what my neighbor is charged seems kind of extreme," Sperbeck said.

"EDU just seemed like the most straightforward way to do it," Jeffrey Haslun responded.

"Everything we've done has been based on what we can save the people of Warnerville," Horning added.

Also at the March 12 meeting, the board approved a SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review) Resolution for the proposed pedestrian path, also being called a multi-modal trail. The town will be the lead agency for the project.

The town has also applied for $4.5 million from a New York Forward grant program as another possible means of funding the multi-modal trail and related improvements.