Council weighs narrower sidewalk, easement and safety trade-offs for Grand Avenue project

Saratoga Springs City Council members and staff debated a proposed Grand Avenue pedestrian and bicycle improvement that council members said would reduce the number of required permanent property easements but would not eliminate litigation risk or community concerns.

Supporters and staff described options that would shrink an original 8-foot multi‑use path to a 5‑foot sidewalk, a change officials said would reduce the number of properties requiring grading and driveway easements from about 54 initially identified in concept down to roughly 18. Staff estimated the narrower design could reduce permanent easements and lower the scope of property impacts; they also offered a rough project cost increase in the “realm of $400,000.”

Council members and staff said the narrower design aims to limit takings risk and reduce the number of property owners affected. Officials said marking the 8‑foot and 5‑foot boundaries on site would allow residents to compare impacts; staff told the council those marks will be placed within about two weeks.

During discussion, council members and others emphasized safety concerns that prompted the project, including high vehicle speeds, mixing of modes such as bicycles, e‑bikes and scooters, and the presence of school‑age children in the corridor. Officials said stop signs already have reduced speeds and that adding crosswalks and pedestrian‑actuated crossings could further calm traffic. Staff also noted engineering choices — for example, saw‑cutting joints on new concrete — to reduce the “thump” cyclists experience when crossing sidewalks.

Several speakers stressed that reducing the width would remove many of the property impacts that trigger permanent easement acquisitions. But staff warned that, even with changes, takings litigation remained a realistic possibility and could delay the project for years. The council discussed the trade‑offs between an 8‑foot multi‑use trail preferred by some bicycle advocates and a narrower sidewalk preferred by many adjacent residents.

Council members said the city’s Complete Streets guidance currently lists Grand Avenue as an in‑lane bike route rather than part of the Greenbelt Trail, and staff noted utilities and right‑of‑way constraints that make some designs difficult. Officials said further public outreach would continue and that more granular materials would be provided when the narrower 5‑foot alignment is marked at the site.

The council did not record a final vote on the alignment during the meeting; members said they would add the issue to a future agenda item after additional outreach and site marking.