Bike Path News
Thursday, 17 January 2013 00:00
Yonkers Green Policy Task Force
Last week, the Yonkers City Council approved earmarking city funds to move forward with the Bronx River Pathway Extension Project, a 1.5 mile-long stretch of on and off-road between the Bronx River Pathway from Palmer Road in Yonkers to the Bronx border to be utilized as a bike path.
In 2002, Yonkers secured a $1 million federal grant for the path and is required to cover $150,000 of the cost or lose the funding all together. Half of that, or $75,000 in funding, was approved as an amendment to the city's 2012-13 operating budget and plans to earmark another $75,000 are in place for next year.
This project is deemed an important step forward in the decades-long effort to build a network of safe walking and cycling paths and trails in Yonkers and Westchester. It will restore the Bronx River Park to its original purpose of a recreational park serving residents of South West Yonkers who currently lack access to the Croton Aqueduct, River Walk and South County trails.
What's more, the trail gap in Yonkers will no longer be a "missing link" in the broader East Coast Greenway - a route that, once complete, will link every major East Coast City from Florida to Canada.
"Beyond the recreational merits of extending and connecting the bike path, last night's vote secured federal funds that were allocated to the project and could not be used for any other projects," said City Council President Chuck Lesnick. "Now is not the time to waste government grants."
While it was clear from the public comments that some residents are concerned about parking and safety, Council President Lesnick suggests that they become involved in the planning and siting of the path to help accommodate their ideas and further address their concerns.
