September, 2001 issue

Called the "Mid-Hudson South Region Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan," it identifies places where bicycle and pedestrian improvements can be made and gives practical guidelines to implement the suggested improvements.

Said Lawrence Salley, Westchester County Transportation Commissioner, "This plan will serve as the basis for future bicycle and pedestrian planning in Westchester. It can be used as a guide for local officials to develop bicycle and pedestrian amenities within their boundaries."

The plan -- a project of the Westchester County Department of Transportation, the Rockland County Department of Planning and the Putnam County Department of Planning and Development -- seeks to promote bicycling and walking as alternatives to driving, to educate the public on opportunities for bicycle and pedestrian travel in the region and to promote job access.

Coordinated by the plan's consultant team -- the RBA Group, Howard-Stein/Hudson Associates and Ferrandino Associates -- the plan includes maps with the proposed improvements suggested by the public and planning professionals. An extensive outreach process in the three-county region produced information gathered through municipal surveys, public meetings held in each county, discussions with municipal officials, feedback from the project's website, field visits and use of a latent demand scoring analysis.

Some of the proposed projects for Westchester County include bike routes to train stations and downtown centers such as White Plains, Port Chester and Tarrytown; bike racks and lockers at transportation hubs; new and repaired sidewalks and curb ramps; and new signage and striping. For more information on the Mid-Hudson South Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan, please contact Naomi Klein at (914) 813-7758.