Village Details How $3.99M NY Grant Will Help Keep Pedestrians Safe

MAMARONECK, NY — Tax money being spent in Mamaroneck will almost certainly save lives and village officials are detailing plans on how a new influx of funding for pedestrian safety will be used.

It was announced last week by Gov. Kathy Hochul that the Village of Mamaroneck will be receiving $3,999,420 from the state to construct sidewalks, curbs, traffic calming measures and a pedestrian crossing along Halstead Ave. The grant is part of $178.8 million to be awarded to 75 communities across the state for projects that promote "environmentally friendly modes of travel" and make it easier and safer for New Yorkers to walk, bike or hike.

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The Village of Mamaroneck has provided further details on how that funding will be put to use:

• Addressing accessibility needs by replacing most of the curbs and 7,500 linear feet of sidewalks on both sides of Halstead Ave.
• Constructing 38 curb ramps to enhance pedestrian safety.
• Enhancing the Ward Ave. crossing (perpendicular to the train station) with curb extensions and modernizing the pedestrian crossing.
• Replacing and upgrading the existing signal at the North Barry Ave. intersection with pedestrian crossing components.
• Enhancing the North Barry Ave. intersection with curb extensions for safer pedestrian crossing around heavily used intersection and Bee-Line bus stop.
• Constructing curb extensions at the Beach Ave., Florence St. and Fourth St. intersections to address the higher concentration of pedestrian activity. The locations of these extensions will serve to limit impacts on adjacent properties while installing a full-width sidewalk.

"The Halstead Avenue corridor in the Village of Mamaroneck contains missing sections of sidewalk," Village of Mamaroneck Mayor Tom Murphy said "Much of the existing sidewalk does not meet the compliance standards of the American with Disabilities Act. This grant will help bring necessary traffic calming measures —such as curb extensions — to certain pedestrian crossing areas to better emphasize the pedestrian environment. I want to thank the Village Manager’s office staff for working so diligently to get funding for needed projects without burdening our taxpayers."

The statewide funding was set aside to improve access to transportation and fight climate change by supporting the construction of new sidewalks, shared use paths and other enhancements that will help make life easier for those not traveling by car. It is hoped that the plan will also reduce greenhouse emissions.

More than two-thirds of the statewide projects funded will benefit Environmental Justice Communities, helping to improve access, air quality and bicycle and pedestrian access for low- and moderate-income families.

"As demonstrated through the recently adopted State Budget and our historic capital plan, New York continues to make unprecedented investments so we can build back stronger than ever before," Gov. Hochul said. "We're investing in strategic initiatives across the state to improve quality of life, promote economic growth, and revitalize our communities. Most importantly, by advancing mobility alternatives, these awards will provide new opportunities and remove barriers for individuals in Environmental Justice Communities that have traditionally lacked adequate transportation access."

The funding, which will provide up to 80 percent of total project costs, was made available through the Federal Highway Administration and administered by the New York State Department of Transportation. Projects were selected through a process that required applicants to demonstrate how proposed activities would contribute to increasing the use of non-vehicular transportation alternatives, reduce vehicle emissions and/or mitigate traffic congestion.

In July 2019, New York passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act), which allowed for measures to reduce New York's carbon footprint. The plan's architects say the climate act provides untold opportunities for New Yorkers to partner with businesses, schools and government to create a green economy and build a more sustainable future.