Woodstock’s Complete Streets Committee plans to hold a public meeting on March 24 at 6 p.m. at the Mescal Hornbeck Community Center to update residents on a plan to extend village sidewalks into a pedestrian and bike path stretching as far as Bearsville.
The village is already working with the Department of Transportation on a $25 million project slated to begin next year to rebuild four bridges, replace sidewalks and widen roads. The public meeting set for March aims to solicit feedback from residents on the plan that would link a foot and bike lane between the Woodstock and Bearsville post offices, or what the committee calls a “post to post” project.
The proposal, which would be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, has gained traction as traffic rises along Route 212 because of an increase in short-term rentals and the relocation of the Woodstock Library to Dixon Avenue from its more pedestrian-friendly location.
“There’s going to be a lot more people walking along that corridor than there ever were before,” said Complete Streets Chair Grace Murphy.
The public session aims to explain how the proposal aligns with the committee’s goals to promote public safety and environmental preservation. Town Supervisor Anula Cortis’s office will set the precise date once state transportation officials complete their ADA-compliant plan.
The plan does have some critics. Woodstock Tree Committee co-Chair Michael Veitch, who attended the meeting, has raised objections about the number of trees that will be removed and questioned whether all of the committee’s members supported it. Veitch’s committee has asked for 40 new trees to be planted from the Village Green to Schoonmaker Lane.
“I know that people from the tree committee, very legitimately, have concerns about how we’re going to make sure that we have as beautiful a tree-lined street when this is all over,” Murphy said. Those plans are still being worked out. I’m certainly committed to making sure we have a beautiful tree lined street.”
At the meeting, Complete Streets members also reviewed the progress of its application for a Transportation Alternatives Program grant to help fund the extended path linking the two hamlets. The committee has so far gathered letters of support for U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, State Senator Michelle Hinchey, and Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, along with more than a dozen local businesses.
Letters in support or opposition are still being accepted. To submit one, contact the committee or the Town Supervisor’s office.
Complete Streets is also working on an application for a feasibility study grant exploring a potential pedestrian and bike connection between Woodstock and Hurley that would link the Village Green to the Ashokan Rail Trail, creating an alternative to busy Route 375.
The committee plans to again participate in the Woodstock Farm Festival this summer to spread the word about its plans for the year to come.