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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTAP 2023-04-06Rte 13 Bridge TAP Grant Subcommittee Meeting. 3-4:20 pm April 6, 2023 Attendance: Ray, Bob, Dan, Todd, Alice Dan has met with Gavin Mosely at NYSEG. Suggested we apply again for a grant and emphasize this will be a commuter trail for e-bikes. Can ask for $250K and maybe get $200K.) Ray: We just got the possession of the certificate for the Hale property from DOT Syracuse postmark. It was marked March 31, 2023. Todd reported on three cutting progress. DPW took down one on Knickerbocker property and another on DOT property; CU was able to take down only one tree. Now CU will have to wait for certain weather conditions for endangered bats to be active at dusk. We have multiple DRT TF folks who’ve volunteered to do the survey. Two trees on Hale property would be easy to take down. If no bats come out during the survey, Rick’s crews can cut the next day. A third tre on Hale property leans towards the electric lines. There’s also tree on the Cornell, southside of the trail that’s hanging over the billboard. So, suggestion is that both be contracted out. Cost may be $1000-2000. Todd said CU uses Cascadilla Tree care. Todd will get estimates and get them to Ray so he can consult Rick. The sweet spot for cutting these down is before the trees leaf out in mid-May. Rick has generated figures for DPW work on trail surfacing from Rte 13-Monkey Run and Rte 13-Hallwoods Rd (excluding bridge surface). Looks like $62K could be saved compared with EA figures in the Cost Budget worksheets for the same work. Ray will forward this work to EA and to Julie at DOT. Ray will check with Erdman Anthony if silt fence is needed the whole length of the trail. News from EA re design report: details have gone back and forth between Paul and DOT. Now it’s in the redraft phase. These items are not likely to change the design, but it’s hope that they may reduce costs. Examples provided by EA indicate that the bridge structure cost could be lower than EA scoped. Todd hopes that with other suggested changes, we can get $150K less in expense. Rather than the more expensive arched option, the design could utilize a DRT sign that arches. The actual design of the bridge will be completed in the process of working with the contractor selected. Bob wants to be sure the bridge accommodates maintenance vehicles and equestrians. Facing on concrete abutments and wingwalls? No estimates yet on the cost comparisons. One suggestion: textured forms used in Cascadilla gorge. Todd has submitted seeding recommendation to both EA and DOT. Todd thanked Ray for getting EA to give the revised description of the changes for the CU easement. Hope is that CU real estate will turn around the approvals within the needed timeframe to go with the construction plan. To address a possible funding gap, Todd asked about the suggestion that water and sewer improvements can be covered in another fund in the Town. Ray said when the town got the final design for water and sewer, the costs seemed appropriate to be borne by the water/sewer district. At the moment, Knickerbocker is main recipient, but the improvements will also allow expansion east. Town is also taking ownership of lines that can be extended further along the rail trail. Knickerbocker donation is proceeding. Lawyers are drafting a donation agreement. There’s also the new sewer agreement (Dryden is taking over previously privately owned lines). This has to go through a similar process to the acquisition of the Hale property. Long check list. Ray will meet with DOT Region 3 realty group to see if there is any way to simplify the process. Town Attorney Nate Van Why has been invited. Looks like a May submission of the final Design report. Request Ray to double check if there’s another public hearing required. Ray believes the next hearing will be when the TB authorizes the next round of spending for the bridge. In the current design drawing the 10-foot trail is drawn tight to the Kellogg property. Todd suggests that we discuss with EA, even though we’ve indicated 10 feet the entire stretch of the trail, it might be best to see if DOT would allow a slightly narrower trail. Pauls’ map will show we do have the 10 feet, but it will be right at the property line. Next meetings: 4 pm May 11 Bob & Todd mt with Bellesario and Rick Young to get info about the Hall woods section. Hoped to get some numbers for trail surfacing costs. The plan is to put something together that can be used for grant applications to Dominion, Triad and small county grant. A wetland permit has been submitted to the Army Corps. Bob and Todd were hoping to convince Bellesario to change the easement to avoid the wetland, but he declined. However, it looks like the corps has changed its permitting standards and now allows a half-acre. It looks like the impact of this trailwork will be less. Ray and Bob mapped it out after the Bellesario meeting so they know where the trail can go within the 66-foot easement. County grant of $5K has a deadline 4/15. Goal for that grant is to cover cost of shrubbery along the Hanson property. Botanic Gardens uses http://www.whiteoaknursery.biz RE: Billboard. Current plan is that the Town will become owner of the Park billboard. One option is to let Park relocate it within the piece of the Knickerbocker property and the current lease would run until 2031. This would keep a commercial sign in close proximity to the bridge for another 7+ years, and it would be a future Town Board decision whether to renew the lease. Another alternative is that Dryden could draft an electronic billboard law that would stipulate removal of four existing billboards. The Planning Board recommended this, but internal discussions indicated that it would be problematic. Dan said he’d check back and see where that stands.