Within the last two months, both the Town and Village of Saugerties passed Complete Streets resolutions that commit the municipalities to stronger efforts for accommodating pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit users, and people of all ages and abilities when building transportation infrastructure. The resolutions also establish a formal joint Town and Village Saugerties Transportation Advisory Council (STAC), which will identify and support the development of potential future transportation projects and efforts. The STAC has been in existence since the Saugerties Area Mobility Analysis was completed in 2007 through planning efforts of the Ulster County Transportation Council. The new STAC will involve more members, have an increased focus on walking and bicycling access, and have a more formal advisory role in the municipalities.
Six members will be appointed by the Town of Saugerties and five members will be appointed by the Village of Saugerties to the Council. Applications to become a member of the Council can be found on the left bottom side of the Creating Healthy Places Ulster website: www.creatinghealthyplacesulster.org/healthy-activity.html.
Applications are due by March 5 to Kristen Wilson by email atkew67@cornell.edu, by fax at (845) 340-3993, or by mail at Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County, 232 Plaza Rd., Kingston, NY, 12401. Questions may be directed to Kristen at (845) 340-3990 ext. 347. Applications will be shared with the town and village officials who will make the appointment decisions.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County is providing administrative and technical assistance to develop the Council with funding from the New York State Department of Health’s Creating Healthy Places grant.
Supervisor Greg Helsmoortel said the town was assured by Cornell Cooperative Extension that the Saugerties improvements will come at no cost to local taxpayers.