Syracuse engineers outline $3.5 million pedestrian-and-bike upgrades near Regional Market; residents press for earlier crosswalks

Marzah Malkoch, an engineering department staff member, told the Syracuse City Transportation committee the city has about $3,500,000 in state and federal funds allocated for the Regional Transportation Center / Regional Market Area Mobility Improvement Project and that the work is now in preliminary design. "We have about $3,500,000 funds from the federal government and from the state," she said, adding that preliminary work should finish in one to two months and construction is tentatively expected in 2027.

The project will focus on pedestrian and bicycle facilities along Park Street, portions of NDT Parkway, Taximone Drive and Piawatha Boulevard, staff said. Design elements described included new corner crosswalks with push buttons, refuge islands at the Farmers' Marketplace driveway, flashing beacons and a continuous shared-use path that connects existing improvements in Washington Square to the farmer's market. Where right-of-way allows, the path will expand from 8 feet to 10 feet; in constrained areas the plan calls for a 5-foot sidewalk.

Staff emphasized funding limits and program rules. Malkoch said the project is funded through a Transportation Alternatives Program grant and that "no vehicular improvements are allowed with using this funding," so a new traffic signal is not included without separate funding. She invited public comment and said project materials are on a city project page; "the deadline to submit comments is this Friday," she said.

Residents and committee members pressed staff on safety and maintenance. Neighborhood activist Sean Meyer, who identified himself during public comment, recounted watching people walk from Park Street to the market and described recent incidents: "I've watched 3 deaths in the last 3 years from Park Street," he said, urging the city to finish sidewalks and install a crosswalk to connect the neighborhood to the market and nearby services. Meyer said a wintertime incident in which a newcomer carrying groceries had to walk in the road highlighted the need for safer crossings.

Staff and other participants responded that the plan includes two new crosswalks across Park Street and upgraded corners with push buttons and striping to better connect sidewalks and the shared-use path, but they also said some locations cannot accommodate full-width sidewalks because of highway or parcel boundary constraints and that detailed design will further evaluate sightlines, snow storage and enforcement. On green infrastructure and trees, staff said the parks department will be engaged during design and that planting may require local matching funds.

Committee members asked about timing and implementation steps. Staff said preliminary design should be complete within a month or two, that the project will be competitively bid, and that construction timing will depend on review times, bids and contract schedules. A committee member raised snow-removal and winter accessibility concerns; staff said DPW coordination will be necessary and snow-storage areas will be considered in design.

Next steps: staff will complete preliminary design, incorporate public comments submitted through the project page by the stated deadline and advance to detailed design. Construction remains subject to approvals and bidding; staff gave a tentative target of 2027 for on-the-ground work. The committee adjourned following the presentation.