Attendance

Jason Purvis, CDTC; Teresa LaSalle, CDTC; John Stangle, Village of Menands; Paul Russell, Town of Colonie; Ivan Vamos, NYBC; Linda Trembley, Intern/UAlbany; Marcia Kees, Erie Canalway, National Heritage Corridor; Don Odell, Friends of MHBHT; John DiMura, NYS Canal Corp; Elaine Troy, NYSDOH Healthy Heart;

1. Review/approval of October 28 meeting review. Approved as submitted.

2. Update: Schenectady Trail Signage.

q Don Odell reported that Steve Feeney has informed him that the Guilford crossing signage was in the process of being installed to properly and safely direct trail traffic.

q Don also reported that he has not forwarded the survey from last summer of signage in the City of Schenectady to proper authorities.

3. Update: Union College/Ramada Inn situation

q Marcia Kees reported that NYSOPRHP wants to maintain trail, and that an at-grade crossing for the benefit of Union Collage is not likely.

2. Update: Greenway/CDTC/Albany County trail connections study.

q Jason Purvis reported that the study is completed, and will be on the CDTC web page in mid-December.

q Jason also reported that the formal abandonment of the approximately 3 miles of abandoned rail right-of-way from Cohoes to Cannon Street in Green Island is not in the comment period. Cohoes has also acquired funding to rehabilitate the bridge.

4. An Overview of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor

q Marcia Kees and Frank Dean are full-time staff in this program.

q There will be a web site in mid-December.

q Partnerships have been established among the following: Mohawk Valley Heritage Corridor, Western Erie Canal, Canal Society of New York State, NYS Canal Corporation, and the New York Parks and Conservation Association.

q Marcia is working with John DiMura on interpretative signage.

q Ivan Vamos noted that he had submitted comments on feeder canals.

5. Volunteer Opportunities – Regional Canalway organization. Don Odell announced that he is stepping down as the section director, and note taker not later than the end of February 2004. He indicated that the work is important, but after two years it was time for him to move on. The compliments for his work in these past two years were appreciated. No one volunteered to continue all or part of this work.

6. Regional Updates

q John DiMura noted that the statewide trail sweep is scheduled for June. There may be a series of workshops in areas where the trail is complete to focus on how communities can take advantage of the trail. These meeting will take place over the next six months. Ivan Vamos noted that the New York Bicycling Coalition is interested in assisting with these workshops.

q Elaine Troy noted that there are efforts to identify safe routes to schools. How about safe routes to the trail? Local police should be part of a program to emphasize safe routes.

q Marcia Kees said that the next Erie Canalway, National Heritage Corridor Commissioners meeting will be Jan. 27, 2004 from 10 AM-2 PM at the Syracuse State Fairgrounds. Contact Marcia or go to the website for details.

q Jason Purvis had just returned from a pedestrian safety scanning tour in five locations nationally. (Seattle, WA Portland. OR, Durham, NH, Cambridge, MA and Portland, ME). A brief report will be given to the CDTC Bicycle Pedestrian Task Force tomorrow (Dec. 9).

q John Stangle noted that construction on SR 32 has ceased for the winter. Only two lanes are open. The village is looking for funding to attempt a trail connection to Schuyler Flatts.

q Teresa LaSalle indicated that there is a new linkages project: the Patroon-Greenway project.

q Marcia Kees indicated that there is an inventorying or surveying of trails underway. They were in Rochester in October. Also, $10,000 has been provided to the NYPCa for a trail guide.

q John DiMura reported that David-Iman Adler will be at one of the next two meetings of the MH Regional Canalway group. The NYPCA is doing a non-intensive study for east-west trail connections in Cohoes, and expects to complete the project by June 2004.

7. Other business. Paul Russell noted the availability of a Rails to Trails Conservancy publication for Trails for the 21^st Century: Planning, Design, and Management Manual for Multi-Use Trails, published by the Island Press (www.islandpress.org). He also noted that he had done some research on GPS systems, and that they are now available for less than $200.

8. Next Meeting.

The next meeting is scheduled for 3 PM, January 26, 2004 at the Environmental Clearinghouse of Schenectady office, 2851 Aqueduct Road, Niskayuna.

SUBMITTED BY:

Don Odell