POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County legislators may take the lead of Ulster and Westchester counties by adopting a “Complete Streets Policy.” The Public Works and Capital Projects Committee will consider the policy at its meeting this coming Thursday.
The policy calls on the county to plan, design, construct, operate and maintain its streets, bridges, bus systems, parks, trails and buildings to promote safe and comfortable travel for people of all ages and abilities.
Dutchess will measure the success of the project using five criteria including total miles of sidewalks countywide, total miles of on-street bicycle facilities, total miles of county roadways with shoulder widths of four feet or more, number of Dutchess County Public Transit bus stop shelters, and the number of county public transit bus stop shelters accessible via sidewalks and curb ramps.
The objectives of the policy over a 10-year period include increasing total miles of sidewalk, doubling the number of bus stop shelters, and tripling the total miles of on-street bicycle facilities countywide.
“Enacting this Complete Streets Policy greatly enhances our ability to provide a smartly planned and interconnected network of roads, trails and means of transportation that will greatly benefit our county,” said Public Works Committee Chairman Gregg Pulver. “Dutchess County already thrives as a destination for tourists, and this plan aims to continue to make Dutchess County an even more attractive place not only to live and to work, but also to visit and enjoy our unique towns and villages that are filled with rich history and scenic beauty.”
