U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) awarded $3,457,770 to close a gap in the overall trail system through the Town of Greece and City of Rochester knitting together the Canalway Trail with the I-390 Trail and creating the first segment of the new Eastman Trail. Schumer said finally linking these trails would make this trail system much more viable for both recreation and transportation purposes in the Rochester area. On top of this, the Eastman Trail’s Ridgeway Segment will create the first phase of the Eastman Trail that is planned to run west to east from the I-390 trail at Ridgeway avenue east west to Lake Avenue and the Genesee River Trail System. The Eastman Trail would also traverse through Eastman Business Park enhancing efforts to redevelop the business park and make it more attractive to companies looking to locate there.
“Linking this beautiful trail system will finally enable the Rochester area to fully tap into the huge benefits this offers for locals, tourists, and businesses. This $3.4 million federal investment will not only allow residents and tourists alike to enjoy the trails for hiking, jogging and biking, but it will enhance our continued efforts to attract new companies to the Eastman Business Park area,” said Senator Schumer. “This is a major win for the Rochester area and will be a shot in the arm for the regional economy.”
“I’m pleased that these federal funds are finally available for the Town of Greece and the City of Rochester,” said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “Making these critical improvements to the Canalway and Eastman Trails would help strengthen Rochester’s local economy and long-term sustainability. I will continue to fight for funding that would upgrade and modernize our infrastructure and these transportation funds will help us achieve that goal.”
Specifically the I-390 Multi-Use Trail now runs from runs from the Lake Ontario State Parkway in the north, down along the I390- corridor, but ends at Rt 104. The first $2,057,770 will enable the I-390 Multiuse trail to extend south from Rt 104, past Ridgeway Avenue to connect with the Canalway Trail. Additionally $1.4 million will be used to create the Eastman Trail’s Ridgeway Segment starting at the I-390 Ridgeway interchange and extending eastward. These projects will create a linkage between the north-south oriented I-390 trail and the east-west oriented Eastman Trail.