The Saratoga Greenbelt Trail (SGT) is a visionary 24 mile/39 km shared use path that forms a continuous loop connecting the city of Saratoga Springs, NY. This is a unique project, with the potential to transform our community by creating a new green infrastructure for active transportation and recreation. The SGT will create a safe pathway for runners, bicyclists, pedestrians, skiers, snowshoers, dog walkers, and other trail users to travel around "The City in The Country". The trail will build upon Saratoga’s unique heritage of Health, History and Horses, with a design that highlights the local landscape, heritage and culture of Saratoga. The benefits of the trail will improve the economy, environment and quality of life for residents, visitors and businesses.

To create the 24-mile trail, the City is working to link currently existing trail segments - Spring Run Trail, Railroad Run Trail, Bog Meadow Trail, and the trails in the Saratoga Spa State Park - with new segments currently in development. These new segments include: Geyser Road Trail, Downtown Connector Trail, Crescent Avenue, and the Downtown Extender (Henry Street is one section of this project). Two project updates are below.

Project Updates:

HENRY STREET PILOT: SHORT-TERM PROJECT FOR LONG-TERM CHANGE

Saturday Sept.14th through Sunday Sept. 29th

The City of Saratoga Springs is completing the first two-way cycle track through the heart of downtown as a pilot project from Saturday Sept.14th through Sunday Sept. 29th. Henry Street will be transformed from a two-way street into a one-way street with a two-way cycle track on one side of the road and dedicated street parking on the opposite side of the road.

This “pilot” project allows the City to test a low cost engineered design – one of three proposed - to create the urban segment of the Saratoga Greenbelt Trail from Lake Avenue to Spring Street. By using short-term, low-cost, and scalable methods, the goal is to improve the safety of Henry Street for all users and make this section of Henry Street a more attractive corridor for cycling, walking, taking transit and enjoying downtown.

BACKGROUND

This project is the result of extensive community engagement that began in 2014 with the adoption of the Saratoga Greenbelt Trail Plan followed by the 2016 Complete Streets Plan. The Saratoga Greenbelt Trail is a challenging project, but it represents a significant legacy for future generations who will live, work and play in Saratoga Springs.

Currently, our trails are very popular with usage exceeding 127,000 annual trips on Railroad Run alone. This urban segment will provide people on bikes with a designated space to ride along Henry Street in downtown while maintaining dedicated street parking and pedestrian accommodations on the sidewalk. The pilot is supported by the Henry Street Business Association, the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, and the Saratoga Springs Public Library. 

HOW IT WORKS

In short, it is a chance to start small. In the last year, the City has worked with an engineering consultant, various stakeholders, and all of the City departments through a collaborative design process to ensure that the current design reflects the unique needs and opportunities of this urban segment.

Time Interval: Two-week pilot test

Location: Henry Street from Lake Avenue to Spring Street

Funded by AARP and CDTC grants

Cost + Materials: No Material Cost to Residents or Businesses. Materials are low cost with minimal effect on storm water management and drainage infrastructure

Flex Design: Designed to be easily adjusted and removed

Presentation from 9/14/2019 Saratoga Springs Library Open House

Slides: 9/14/2019 Henry Street Pilot Presentation

REMEMBER THAT THIS IS TESTING SOMETHING - We want to know what you think! Take our survey: 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MVPFW6Q

CASE STUDIES IN THE “TEST BEFORE YOU INVEST” APPROACH: DEMONSTRATION AND PILOT PROJECTS

• AARP Livable Communities: Supports the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and rural areas to be great places for people of all ages with the goal of safe, walkable streets; age-friendly housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents of all ages to participate in community life.
• Seattle, WA: City uses pilot project to test downtown protected bicycle lane project.
• Boulder, CO: Living Lab program allows the city to test new street designs proposed in Boulder’s 2014 Transportation Master Plan.
• New York, NY: Pedestrian Plaza Program.
• Philadelphia, PA: “Better Block” project demonstrates possibilities for Complete Streets.
• Burlington, VT: Using short-term demonstration projects to test alternatives for better walking and biking.
• Memphis, TN: The MemFIX program involves citizens and community groups in testing out street and public space design ideas.
• Town of Maynard, MA: The Town of Maynard is using Pilot projects to test alternatives for downtown streets.
• Delaware: Created the Delaware Complete Communities Planning Toolbox to help build local government capacity to develop projects. Cities and towns such as Wilmington, Newark, and Middletown have implemented projects.
• NACTO Design Guide: Using Temporary Materials to quickly delivery projects

QUESTIONS? Send an Email to: 

Tina Carton - Administrator of Parks, Open Lands, Historic Preservation, and Sustainability 

Tina.Carton@Saratoga-Springs.org

Saratoga Greenbelt Downtown Connector

The City of Saratoga Springs is in the final planning stages to construct a 1.66 mile urban section of the Saratoga Greenbelt Trail. The new multi-use trail will start at the corner of Lake Avenue and High Rock Avenue extending up High Rock Avenue to Excelsior Avenue and terminating at the Route 50 bridge over I-87 at exit 15. The project will include a multi-use trail on one side of High Rock Avenue and Excelsior Avenue. The trail will replace the existing sidewalk with a 10 foot multi-use trail. On the opposite side of the street, the project will complete missing sidewalk segments to create a continuous pedestrian path. The Saratoga Greenbelt Downtown Connector Trail project's preliminary design has been approved by the NYS Department of Transportation and is currently in the right-of way acquisition phase. 

The City of Saratoga Springs is pleased to announce it has received approximately $2.67 million from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC Climate Protection Implementation Projects – Category 1 Clean Transportation ($1,134,333) and Department of Transportation (DOT) Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) -'" Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program to complete the Saratoga Greenbelt Downtown Connector ($1,531,626). Other funding is provided through the 2017 Capital Budget, the Reserve Fund for the Purchase of Parkland and/or for Capital Improvements to Existing Parkland, Expenditure of the Subdivision Regulations and as part of its Zoning Ordinance (Section 7.2.18), as well as private development improvements.

Written comments can be submitted via email to: Christina.Carton@Saratoga-Springs.org

Relevant Documents

Saratoga Greenbelt Trail Map

Saratoga Greenbelt Trail Feasibility Study

Saratoga Greenbelt Trail Downtown Connector DRAFT Preliminary Engineered Plan Map

March 4, 2019 SGT Downtown Connector Presentation

SGT Downtown Connector Draft Design Report

Henry Street Pilot Final Plans