Cycle in the City 10/2

Wow! It is almost October.

The next, and last for the year, ride will be next Sunday, October 2nd, beginning around 9 am at the Creek Walk trailhead in Armory Square (Jefferson Street on the circle around the M.O.S.T.)

The short route (10 miles) is relatively flat with the major hill being on Summit Avenue going to Upper Onondaga Park.

The long route (16 miles) follows the short route but with a 6 mile loop that has significant hills since it passes by the lower entrance to Onondaga Community College.

The maps can be found at http://www.ongov.net/health/documents/October2016Routes.pdf

On the long route, John Allen plans to lead the loop in the opposite direction than indicated on the map. This means that the uphills will be steeper and the downhills less steep but longer. It is safer because it avoids speeding down Glenwood Avenue past the Bellevue Country Club and having to stop to check the traffic on Bellevue and it avoids the steep downhill on McDonald Rd that, to him, could result in a serious accident, and having to stop at Velasko Rd. Anyway, we have done the route in the map direction twice, but never in this direction. Walking part of the hill is permitted.

Hope to see you for the rides.

Funds Available for Extending Lake Trail and Creekwalk, and enhance the Connective Corridor

From an article by Mark Weiner in today’s Post-Standard:

The federal government will provide almost $10 million to extend the Onondaga Creekwalk in Syracuse and build a new section of the recreation trail looping around Onondaga Lake.

The grant money also will pay for $475,000 worth of additions to the Connective Corridor linking Syracuse University to downtown, New York’s two U.S. senators said Wednesday.

The $10 million had been earmarked for other Syracuse-area transportation projects in 2005, but for unexplained reasons it was never spent. Federal rules blocked the grants from being used for other projects.

U.S. senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand backed legislation that gave the Federal Highway Administration and state Department of Transportation the flexibility to repurpose the money. The grants will help pay for:

› An extension of the Onondaga Lake recreation trail for 2.8 miles from the New York State Fair area to the southern shore in Syracuse. The federal government would provide $5 million toward the $13.3 million project. When complete, it would connect the lake trail with the Onondaga Creekwalk and Erie Canal trail.

› An extension of the Onondaga Creekwalk from Armory Square south for 2.2 miles to West Colvin Street. The federal government would provide $4 million for the pedestrian and bike trail along Onondaga Creek.

› About $475,000 worth of improvements on East Genesee Street as part of the Syracuse Connective Corridor. The corridor provides bike paths and other infrastructure to link Syracuse University with downtown Syracuse.

Under new federal rules, the Federal Highway Administration can now redirect federal funds earmarked for specific projects if the money remains unspent for more than 10 years.

Schumer had previously supported Onondaga County’s application for a $10 million competitive federal grant for the lake trail project, but the county did not make the final cut for funding. Contact Mark Weiner by email or at 571-970-3751.

Cyclists pedal along the west shore trail around Onondaga Lake last year. Money will go to make improvements and extend the trail. Michael Greenlar/mgreenlar@syracuse.com