Commissioner Garrett seeks TAP grant to fill 6,000-foot sidewalk gaps on Central Park Avenue; estimated $1.25M town match

Commissioner Garrett told the Town Board on Jan. 6 that staff will file a TAP pre-application to design and construct sidewalks, drainage improvements and pedestrian signals along Central Park Avenue, a corridor with piecemeal gaps and multiple safety concerns.

"The TAP grant functions on an 80/20, 80% federal cost coverage and 20% local match," Garrett said, describing a $6.25 million preliminary total for the proposed project and an estimated $5 million in federal funds if the application succeeds. Garrett said the town’s local share would be roughly $1.25 million, staged across design and construction years so the town would not need the full match up front.

Why it matters: Central Park Avenue is a major north–south corridor in Greenburgh that links Yonkers to Hartsdale and serves seniors, apartment residents, and merchants. Board members and residents said continuous sidewalks would improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists and could support local retail.

Project scope and schedule: Garrett described about seven distinct sidewalk-deficient segments on Central Park Avenue totaling roughly 6,000 linear feet (a little more than one mile). The proposed scope includes sidewalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, drainage fixes and the feasibility of a HAWK (pedestrian-activated) signal in a mid-block location near the Greenburgh Nature Center and bus stops. Garrett said a TAP pre-application is due Jan. 15 to preserve eligibility and that the full application deadline is mid-March. If funded for design, Garrett projected design work in the later 2020s and potential construction funding in the 2029–2032 window.

Local tradeoffs and questions: Board members raised several practical issues: who will maintain sidewalks installed next to park-district land, whether private property owners would need to retrofit parking or seek zoning relief, and the fiscal sustainability of repeatedly using TAP for major corridors. Garrett said the parks department would likely inherit maintenance of sidewalks adjacent to park district property but that staff would confirm legal responsibilities before committing funds.

Community input: Dylan Pine, president of the Edgemont Community Council, and other residents asked whether a HAWK signal or use of an existing intersection signal would better serve a particular bus stop near the post office. Garrett said staff would investigate alternatives and factor results into the budget.

Funding and next steps: Garrett described a two-step approach: submit the pre-application to preserve eligibility, then return to the board for a formal resolution if the town advances to a full application. He said additional state, county or congressional member items could reduce the town’s eventual contribution. "We're always mindful of potentially rising costs and other funding streams that could be achieved to offset the town's cost," Garrett said.

The Town Board did not adopt a binding financial commitment at the Jan. 6 meeting; Garrett asked for a verbal go-ahead to file the pre-application so staff could answer technical questions and refine the budget before returning with more detail and a resolution request.