The epoch times

Orange County to include bike path vision in comprehensive plan.

Orange County’s Vision for a Thriving Bikeway⁣ System

Orange County Planning Commissioner Alan Sorensen, during the ​rules committee meeting ​on ‌Aug. ‌24, presented a draft bikeway vision to be added to the county⁢ comprehensive plan.

The vision describes a future bikeway system of ‍seven ‌major trails with a total length of nearly 65 miles throughout the​ county, connecting town centers, scenic destinations, and​ transit stations along the way.

These bikeways are intended to balance a county transportation system currently overly centered on roads and highways ‍and to encourage traveling modes other than cars.

“We ‍have‍ talked about​ expanding the bike network and now it ⁤is finally in its final draft form to bring back to the legislature,” Mr. Sorensen said at the meeting, ⁣adding that the next step was to refer the draft plan⁤ to ‌county and regional planning boards for review.

Most bikeways are⁣ to be built on‌ inactive ⁣railbeds, with 80 percent of the costs covered by federal grants ⁣plus ⁢occasional state funding.

The system’s ⁢first section ⁢is the Orange County ⁤Heritage Trail, ⁢a 19.5-mile county trail that⁤ runs from Monroe to Middletown along the former Erie Railroad.

It took ‌the county about 20 years to‍ develop that trail, which is now used by half a million locals every year ⁤for ⁤running, biking, and hiking, according⁢ to an estimate by the tourism department.

Soon,⁣ the Heritage Trail will be extended to the⁢ Ingrassia Road in⁢ the Town of Wallkill‍ from downtown Middletown. ​Construction is expected to start next‌ year.

A local resident with ⁢her⁢ golden retriever ‍on the ⁢Goshen section of the Heritage Trail on May 16, 2015. (Yvonne ‌Marcotte/Epoch⁢ Times)

Another trail in the works is the 10-mile ⁣Schunnemunk Rail Trail that‍ runs on the abandoned Erie Railroad ‍from‌ the Town⁣ of⁢ Chester to Salisbury Mills Train Station in Cornwall.

On Aug. 24, ⁤the rules⁢ committee voted to ⁤buy the ‍right-of-way of​ the​ Schunnemunk Trail from⁣ the Open Space Institute for close to ⁤$2.4 million,⁢ with 90⁣ percent of the costs paid for by federal⁢ and‍ state grants.

The trail will be the first in the county to have separate ⁢lanes⁢ for⁤ biking and hiking. Construction is​ expected ​to start next year and ⁣costs around $28 ⁣million.

Following completion, the Schunnemunk Trail is to⁣ be connected to the existing Heritage Trail via Camp LaGuardia, which is slated to⁤ be ⁤turned into a new county⁢ park.

In addition to the above⁢ two trails, five​ more are in planning:

  • A 12.8-mile trail runs‍ from Middletown⁤ down to Unionville
  • Two separate trails starting‌ from ​Campbell Hall Train Station to the‌ existing Walden-Wallkill Trail⁣ on the north side and ⁣Goshen on the south⁤ side
  • Another two trails connecting Storm King Art Center with the nearby ​Salisbury Mills Train Station and ‍Newburgh
Harriman ⁢Train Station‍ in Harriman, N.Y., ⁤on Aug.‌ 23, 2023. ​(Cara Ding/The Epoch⁢ Times)

On ⁢top of ‍the above seven core trails, ‍two outer trails in less dense rural areas are also ‍planned, with ⁢one⁢ to run‍ from Middletown through Otisville ⁢to Westbrookville.

When it comes⁤ to trail sections where⁣ the ‍county doesn’t have land control, ownership⁢ or right-of-way⁢ shall be sought, according to the draft⁤ plan. In ⁣cases where ⁢there are⁣ existing homes or other structures on the proposed bikeways, detours are ​recommended.

Mr. Sorensen told⁤ The‍ Epoch⁣ Times that his passion ‌for parks and open spaces in large part formed in the⁣ time he ⁤spent hiking with his ‍late son ‌and that he hoped the​ future bikeway system would enable more Orange County families to create cherished memories together.

Following the planning board and legislative review, ‍the draft plan will go through a state ‍environmental quality study ⁢and‍ a public hearing before being adopted‌ as part of the comprehensive ⁢plan.

The final adoption is expected ⁣to take​ place by Dec. 2023, according to Mr. Sorensen.

Highland Brook the day after nearly nine inches of rainfall in Highland ⁣Park, N.Y., on July 10, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

Other Comprehensive Plan Updates

At the⁢ Aug. 24 rules‌ committee meeting,


Read More From Original Article Here: Orange County to Add Bikeway Vision to Comprehensive Plan

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