Link to NYSDOT’s Project Page

NYSDOT is now working on a Planning and Environmental Linkages Study (PEL) for I-787, with the potential of bringing huge changes to the region’s active and overall transportation system.

Capital Streets is a proud member of the Albany Riverfront Collaborative, an collective of organizations that have worked extremely hard to get this project to where it is today.

NYSDOT held two open house events in the fall.

Updated on 12/22/23: NYSDOT gave a stakeholder presentation at CRTC’s Active Transportation Advisory Committee meeting on 12/5, and provided updates to the 787 PEL study.

The PEL’s Purpose and Need statement is still being developed, but NYSDOT will provide a draft to the public in the spring and will take feedback at a public meeting before finalization

The PEL will build off of the findings in the 2018 787 corridor study

NYSDOT identified 5 areas where they will be creating design concepts for. It was made it clear that these concepts were still being developed and have not been shared.

Link to NYSDOT’s Project Page

NYSDOT recently wrapped up it’s Planning and Environmental Linkages study (PEL) on the Troy-Menands Bridge, which is nearing the end of its useful life.

The bridge provides a crucial connection for bike commuters between Albany and Troy, and directly connects South Troy to the Empire State Trail on the east side of the Hudson River.

During the PEL, NYSDOT developed 9 concepts, ranging from repairs and replacement (Concepts 1 + 2) to whacky, Robert Moses style bridges (8). Thankfully, by the end of the PEL process, only the level-headed concepts were being seriously considered as options.

With the PEL complete, NYSDOT can now move into the Preliminary Engineering/NEPA phase and seek serious funding opportunities. Capital Streets is dedicated to tracking this project throughout the process to ensure a direct route for bike commuters is maintained and made even safer than the existing route. We will continue to provide commentary and updates, and will produce an official memo during the design phase.

Updated on 12/22/23: NYSDOT recently released the PEL Project Scoping Report and is taking public comment until 1/31/24

Capital Streets put together a thorough letter highlighting some key concerns. We are watching this project closely and will continue to push for safe, convenient multimodal connections

Our letter is on our Public Comments page

You can voice your concerns and add your comments to the public record by emailing Susan.Olsen@dot.ny.gov

Link to Albany’s project page

With State funds, Brevator St. is being redesigned + reconstructed by the City of Albany. After a public engagement meeting, the City had another meeting where they unveiled the latest concept design.

We’re very pleased to see a sidepath proposed along the east side of the corridor, for pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-motorized users completely separate from motor vehicle traffic (similar to a trail)

The concept shown still needs some improvements- the transitions between the sidepath and Washington and Western Aves need work.

You can show your support for the sidepath concept and call for better connectivity at Washington and Western by emailing dpd@albanyny.gov and contacting your Common Council Member

Link to Albany’s project page

The City of Albany’s launched this project to improve Manning Blvd between Washington and Western using “complete streets elements that will enable safe access for all people including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists…”

Without any public input, the City developed two very similar concepts and unveiled them at the first public meeting on 8/14/23. The concepts raised a lot of concerns from residents (which we agree with).

CS analyzed the concepts and published a brief memo on 8/27/23, highlighting how the corridor can be better improved. It’s available on our website and you can read it here

The City just held their second public meeting on Thursday (11/9), where they reviewed public feedback and answered questions. No new concepts were presented, but the City says they’re using the feedback to create a new concept

We’re relieved to hear more thought is going into this, but remain concerned excessively wide lanes will be proposed again on Manning Blvd, increasing speeding and crossing distances for pedestrians. The City must (again) carefully consider how to connect bicyclists to and from Washington and Western. It would also be a missed opportunity to leave the geometry at these busy and sketchy intersections unimproved.

You can voice your concerns and advocate for better bike/ped infrastructure by filling out the “Question” form on the bottom of project webpage and by contacting your councilperson

The City of Troy was awarded $4 Million in 2018 to redesign and reconstruct the Congress and Ferry corridor between the Congress St. Bridge and where the two streets merge east of 8th St.

The project vision has shifted since. There’s a separate vision to reclaim half of the Congress Street Bridge for a trail connection to Watervliet, new housing being constructed today at the foot of the bridge, and costs have changed dramatically over the past 5 years.

After some concern over a lack of public input, Capital Streets worked with the City to establish an project advisory committee. The group will meet for the first time next week.