HomeMy WebLinkAboutTAP Village Cover Letter.pdfLinda Woodard, Mayor
Village of Cayuga Heights
Marcham Hall
836 Hanshaw Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
Julie Bednar
Region 3 TAP Coordinator
New York State Department of Transportation
333 East Washington Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
October 17, 2016
Dear Ms. Bednar,
On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cayuga Heights, I am pleased to submit our Transportation
Alternatives Program (TAP) Project Application for Walking Safe: Cayuga Heights. The Board of Trustees voted
unanimously at its September 19, 2016 meeting to support this application which reflects almost a decade of
effort to address gaps in our existing sidewalk network, particularly for children walking to our local schools. The
Trustees recognize the financial and practical commitment required for a project of this scale and we are prepared
to meet the 20% funding match.
We are particularly excited to be forming a public-private partnership with Lake View Cemetery to allow students
to use the cemetery’s paths as part of this pedestrian initiative. We are also pleased to have the support and
cooperation of the Town of Ithaca, which has allowed for shared jurisdiction of our police departments within the
cemetery property through an Intermunicipal Police Services Agreement, and the inclusion of a crosswalk at Lake
Street for that portion of the route which is within the Town of Ithaca.
Our comprehensive plan, which was adopted on January 13, 2014 after significant public outreach and comment,
identifies pedestrian access to Cayuga Heights Elementary School, Boynton Middle School, and Ithaca High
School “as a safety issue because there are no sidewalks on the steep and narrow hilly streets on the popular
student routes to the schools.” The Comprehensive Plan also cites creating a more pedestrian friendly
environment as a significant objective “in order to reduce the reliance of the automobile and create a more
sustainable Cayuga Heights.” The construction of new sidewalks on Kline and Wyckoff Roads and the
connection through Lake View Cemetery will go far toward addressing these critical safety issues and fulfilling
the Village’s broader environmental goals.
Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Linda Woodard
Mayor