Congratulations to the City of Albany, which has completed the long-anticipated South End Connector pedestrian and bicycle trail together with state and local partners. This environmentally friendly 1.5 mile corridor for pedestrians and cyclists connects the Mohawk Hudson Hike-Bike Trail, which spans from Rotterdam to Albany, to the Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail which extends 9 miles from the Port of Albany to Voorheesville. The Connector also contributes a key link to the Empire State Trail, which, when completed, will be a continuous 750-mile route with one branch connecting New York City to the Canadian border and another branch connecting Albany with Buffalo.

The South End Connector features a two-way cycle track and provides access for residents of the South End neighborhood to Corning Waterfront Park. In addition to providing waterfront access, recreational opportunities, and exercise amenities for both visitors and residents, the trail also acts as a traffic calming measure along South Pearl Street and functions as an important route for those who depend on their bicycles for mobility to access jobs, school, retail, and health care services. Further extending the options for environmentally friendly mobility of Albany, the trail connect to CDTA bus routes. Because all CDTA buses are equipped with bus racks, cyclists will have expansive multimodal transportation options.

New York State funding for the pedestrian and Bicycle Trail

This $1.7 million project was made possible in part by $650,000 in grant funding. Laberge Group prepared a Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) for the design and construction of the connector. The successful grant application resulted in $325,000 in funding each from:

The Local Waterfront Revitalization Program – for increasing access to the Hudson River, expanding trails, and linking regional networks.

• The Climate Smart Community program – for promoting clean transportation that will contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
• The South End Connector showcases how funding from the Consolidated Funding Application can be utilized to implement infrastructure projects that protect the environment while simultaneously improving the quality of life enjoyed by a community’s citizens.