Oswego County Bicycle Strengths
The Seaway and the Revolutionary Scenic Byways routes traverse Oswego County, providing one basis for bicycle promotion in the county.
Two major bicycle trail systems are recognized in Oswego County: the Tour de Tug Bicycle Touring Route, and the Tug Hill Tourathon Cross-Country Ski and Mountain Bike Trail System.
The Oswego County planning office is actively involved in mapping all the present and potential bicycle routes in the county.
The County planning office is carefully monitoring all present and potential rails-to-trails projects in the county, with the intention of linking projects. The County is striving to retain all abandoned rail lines for public use.
The County planning office is also involved in working with snowmobile groups in the development of their trail system, and is working on cooperative efforts among different trail users, including bicyclists.
Private ski areas, such as Winona Lodge, are actively promoting bicycling in the area.
Oswego County Bicycle Opportunities
The two Scenic Byway routes in the county provide a solid basis for a county-wide bicycle trail system. The Seaway trail is an especially valuable bicycle asset.
The strong promotion of snowmobiling in the county has resulted in a broad snowmoblile trail system. There appear to be opportunities for promoting many of the same trails for bicycling in the summer season.
The trail system on the north side of Oneida Lake has especially strong potential, linking the recreation areas along the Lake to parts of Oswego and Oneida County.
The 25 mile Salmon River Corridor Greenway came into existence in 1994 with the transfer of lands and management from Niagara Mohawk to NYSDEC. Bicycling opportunities should improve considerably along the greenway.
Oswego County has obtained ISTEA funding for one project: the City of Fulton/Indian Point Landing project, which will provide for pedestrian/bicycle transportation along a proposed paved path that will access a scenic overlook along the Oswego River in the City of Fulton. Other improvements include landscaping and incidental amenities.
County entities have submitted ISTEA Enhancements applications for four other projects:
Historic O&W Railroad Promenade and Bikeway
Rehabilitation of Lock 2 on Oswego Canal
Rehab of Lock 5 on Oswego Canal
Old Mill Dam Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge in
New Haven
The availability of bicycle shops in the County appears to be limited to the City of Oswego, indicating that there is small business opportunity in some of the outlying communities, especially in the vicinity of the Salmon River greenway and the Seaway Trail.
The County Planning office has much of the road and trail information necessary for developing a county-wide bicycle map.
Saratoga County Bicycle Strengths
The Lake George-Lake Placid Adirondack North Country Scenic Byway route passes through Saratoga County.
Saratoga County has the Saratoga County Heritage Trail Committee that is developing a county-wide trail system using a combination of off-road and on-road facilities. This is probably the Region's most ambitious, and successful effort at county wide bicycle planning. The Committee pursues grants for its trail work, seeks new additions to the dedicated trail system, and works with communities and the county in developing and maintaining the trail system.
The City of Saratoga Springs has a recreation trail system in place, and an Open Space Plan that fosters the trail system, the city's heritage, and its open space.
Bicycle planning in Saratoga County is being carried out by two MPOs whose districts include portions of the county. The Glens Falls Urban Area Transportation Council covers the North half of the county, while the Capital District Transportation Committee covers the south half. Bicycle planning is mandated for all urban areas (i.e., population of 50,000 or more) as part of the ISTEA legislation.
Entities within the County have submitted a total of 14 ISTEA Enhancements applications in the two funding rounds. Three of those were resubmittals. Two projects have been approved for funding to date:
City of Saratoga Springs Bicycle/Pedestrian Path: a 47 mile bikeway transportation system of primary and secondary loops along state, county and local streets within the City of Saratoga Springs. These loops will connect residential and employment centers and will provide connection points to the major commuter park and ride lots and CDTA bus transit stops. The routes will also provide connection points to the proposed Hudson Valley Greenway Corridor, New York State Canal System, and the Saratoga County Heritage Trail System. Total Cost: $127,500.
Schuyler's Canal Towpath - Saratoga County: A pedestrian and bicycle path along a 1.5 mile section of the Old Champlain Canal in the Village of Schuylerville. The General Philip Schuyler House will be accessed from the towpath by a pedestrian bridge spanning the Fish Creek and will provide visitors the opportunity to view historic transportation features including a dry dock, canal lock and aqueduct. Other improvements will include an information center about the history of the Village and transportation along the Old Champlain Canal. Total Cost: $118,162.
There are numerous bicycle shops in Saratoga County, providing support and visibility for bicycling as an alternative to the automobile.
Saratoga County Bicycle Opportunities
The county-wide bicycle route map under development will aid in the promotion of bicycling in the county.
Many bicycle projects are actively being pursued in the County, evidenced by the 10 projects submitted -- but not yet funded -- to the ISTEA Enhancements Program:
Saratoga County Heritage Trail System, Saratoga County
Sitterly Road/Wooden Road Pedestrian & Bicycle Path, Town of Halfmoon
Jessups Landing Pathway, Village of Corinth
Circular Street Sidewalk Project, City of Saratoga Springs
Erie Canal, Lock 21 Dredging and backwall Replacement, NYS Thruway Auth.
Stony Creek Trail: Multi-use Pathway, Town of Clifton Park
Parabolic Bow String Bridge Remediation, Town of Hadley
North Bridge Rehabilitation, Peebles Island State Park, NYS Thruway Auth
Bike/Ped Path Improvements, Village of S Glens Falls
Rehabilitation of Lock 2 on Erie Canal, NYS Thruway Authority
Also of significance to Saratoga County is the acquisition of CP/D&H Railroad by Warren County. The project is the acquisition of 39.09 miles of abandoned railbed beginning in Corinth (Saratoga County) extending north into the Town of Johnsburg (Warren County).
Tourism development opportunity lies with increased promotion of bicycling around Great Sacandaga Lake. A map of the area, jointly developed with Fulton County would lead to increased bicycling in the area.
Bicycle routes that link both the Champlain Canal and the Erie Canal Trail systems offer significant opportunity.
The plan by NYSDOT to develop a New York City to Montreal bicycle route will enhance bicycle efforts in the county.
St. Lawrence County Bicycle Strengths
Three Adirondack North Country Scenic Byway routes bisect St. Lawrence County: Seaway Trail, Black River Trail, and the Olympic Trail, providing a strong basis for bicycle promotion in the county.
The Canton Cycling Club is probably the most active bicycling club in the region, having hosted the GEAR '92 bicycle rally comprising 1,400 cyclists, and annually sponsoring a full slate of races and tours throughout the season.
St. Lawrence County has a diversity of bicycling opportunities, including forest land, farm land, and rides along the St. Lawrence River.
The St. Lawrence River is a major bicycling asset, as is the opportunity for rides across the border into Canada.
St. Lawrence County Bicycle Opportunities
The three Scenic Byway routes in the county provide a solid basis for a county-wide bicycle trail system. The Seaway Trail is an especially valuable bicycle asset.
St. Lawrence County has obtained ISTEA funding for one project: the OBPA Intermodal. The project will enhance the open space land along the St. Lawrence River on property owned by the Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority within the City of Ogdensburg. The project will provide amenities such as a scenic overlook, facilities for pedestrians and bicycles and other incidental improvements.
Entities in the county have submitted ISTEA Enhancements applications for four other projects:
Canton Area Recreational/Commuter Trail System, Village of Canton
Maple City Trail, City of Ogdensburg
Seaway Valley Recreationway, NY Power Authority
Waddington Norwood RR Corridor, NYSDEC
These projects will all lead to improved bicycling in St. Lawrence county.
If the Maple City Trail application is successful, the Ogdensburg planning department sees possibilities for extending the trail system on out to Heuvelton along the Oswegatchie River. There are rail lines that connect the Heuvelton line on out to DeKalb, and then southwest through the county eventually connecting to the Philadelphia line, where a rails-to-trails project is occurring in Jefferson County. There are long term opportunities in connecting these projects.
A county-wide bicycle route map, especially in cooperation with Ontario bicycling advocates would help St. Lawrence County become a more popular bicycle destination.
Bridge crossings into Canada could be made much more bicycle friendly, enhancing cross border bicycling in the county.
Warren County Bicycle Strengths
Four Adirondack North Country Scenic Byway routes pass through Warren County: the Central Adirondack Trail, Lake George-Lake Placid Trail, Dude Ranch Trail, and the Roosevelt-Marcy Memorial Highway.
Warren County is part of the Glens Falls Urban Area Transportation Council, the MPO transportation planning organization that covers the Warren, Washington, and Northern Saratoga Counties urban area. Bicycle planning is mandated for all urban areas as part of the ISTEA legislation.
Warren County has one of the few dedicated bicycle trails in the region, initially constructed in 1976. The trail runs 9 miles from the south end of Lake George to Queensbury. Recent ISTEA funding will extend the trail almost 2 miles into Glens Falls, providing linkages to downtown and to the newly built Feeder Canal Towpath trail system. Unofficial reports indicate usage is in excess of 100,000 users a year.
The entities within the County have submitted a total of 14 ISTEA Enhancements applications in the two funding rounds. Three of those were resubmittals. Three projects have been approved for funding to date:
Warren County Bikeway - Warren Co: The project is a 1.6 mile trail extension that will be the final phase of a heavily used nine mile rails-to-trails transportation corridor between Lake George Village and the City of Glens Falls. The 1.6 mile extension will link the current terminus at Glenwood Avenue in the Town of Queensbury, to Lawrence Street in the City of Glens Falls. The project will allow Warren County to complete the acquisition of the recently abandoned D&H Railroad R.O.W. Total Cost: $617,220.
Acquisition of CP/D&H Railroad - Warren Co.: The project is the acquisition of 39.09 miles of abandoned railbed beginning in Corinth (Saratoga County) extending north into the Town of Johnsburg (Warren County). The railbed parallels the Hudson River for most of its length presenting pictorial views of the Adirondack Mountains and a unique view of the Sacandaga River Valley at a crossing near Corinth. The project will create a tourist attraction given its scenic qualities and its proximity to the Gore Mountain Ski area. Total Cost: $2,000,000.
Marine Village Subbasin Stormwater Management - Warren Co: Project will install detention, infiltration and sedimentation basins to enhance the stormwater handling system in residentially developed areas of the Village of Lake George. The innovative handling of highway runoff proposed by this project will set an example for other communities, and will contribute to efforts to improve the quality of water in Lake George. Total Cost: $350,000.
Warren County publishes a mountain biking trail map that is one of the few up-to-date bicycle maps available in the region. The map shows mountain biking routes throughout the county and is updated annually.
Garnet Hill Ski Center is a private cross country facility that is now catering to mountain bikers in the off season.
Warren County Bicycle Opportunities
A county-wide bicycle route map would supplement its already popular mountain biking map.
Many bicycle projects are actively being pursued in the county, evidenced by the 4 projects submitted to the ISTEA Enhancements Program, in addition to those already funded. The projects proposed for funding are:
North Creek RR Depot, Town of Johnsburg
Warren Co Bikeway Extension, Warren Co. DPW
Town of Warrensburg Revitalization Project, Town of Warrensburg
Streetscape Improvements for Route 9N, Town of Bolton
Bicycle routes linking to the Champlain Canal Trail system offer significant opportunity.
Tie-ins to the Lake Chaplain Bikeways planning and promotion effort are also possible.
The plan by NYSDOT to develop a New York City to Montreal bicycle route will enhance bicycle efforts in the county.
The opening of Gore Mountain Ski Area to mountain biking would have a positive impact on bicycle activities in the county, highlighting the bicycle opportunities available and boosting bicycle business in the area.
Washington County Bicycle Strengths
Two Adirondack North Country Scenic Byway routes pass through Washington County: the Lake George-Lake Placid Trail and the Champlain Trail.
Washington County is part of the Glens Falls Urban Area Transportation Council, the MPO transportation planning organization that covers the Warren, Washington, and Northern Saratoga Counties urban area. Bicycle planning is mandated for all urban areas as part of the ISTEA legislation.
Washington County Bicycle Opportunities
Organizations in the county have submitted two requests for funding to the ISTEA Enhancements Program:
Acquisition & Preservation of D&H Passenger & Freight Station , Ft. Edward Local Development Corporation
Glens Falls Feeder Canal Historic Locks Park, Phase I - Lock Restoration, NYS Canal Corp
Bicycle routes linking to the Champlain Canal Trail system offer significant opportunity.
Tie-ins to the Lake Chaplain Bikeways planning and promotion effort are also possible.
The plan by NYSDOT to develop a New York City to Montreal bicycle route will enhance bicycle efforts in the county.
The county planning office has begun mapping bicycle routes and trails throughout the county, a good start on a county-wide bicycle map.
There appear to be additional opportunities for bicycle shops in the county.