WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins has filed formal comments with the New York State Parks Commissioner expressing support for the preferred alternative option for the West River Greenway Connector Trail project in the Town of Grand Island.
In the letter, Higgins says “In the City of Buffalo, the City of Niagara Falls and through the Tonawandas, great strides have been made and efforts are ongoing to create generous waterfront public access centered around pedestrian, bicycle and paddle craft access and other recreational uses. It is important that the same progress proceed on Grand Island.”
Also supported by Grand Island Town Supervisor Nathan McMurray, the preferred alternative (#3) presented by NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation would close West River Parkway to vehicular traffic between Long Road and Oakfield Road and reuse the existing pavement for a new West River Greenway Trail. Sixty-four percent of the $2.5 million project is funded with federal funding through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). Construction could begin by the fall of 2017 and be complete by the summer of 2018.
Higgins continues in the letter, “The decision regarding which alternative to pursue for this project will have generational significance.”
More information on the West River Bike Trail is available on the NYS Parks website: nysparks.com/inside-our-agency/public-documents.aspx or through the Town of Grand Island website: www.grand-island.ny.us/.
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