The main arrival point into the City of Amsterdam from the NYS Thruway is an uninspired descent. The Downtown Gateway project will create attractive and defined gateway at the intersection of Church Street and East Main Street to provide a positive first impression of the city, render the intersection pedestrian-friendly, and attract visitors to patronize downtown businesses. The project will include public art, new lighting, landscape improvements, sidewalks, and new signage.
The Complete Streets project will transform the city's two primary commercial streets, Bridge Street and East Main Street, into the signature components of a walkable, vibrant downtown environment, drawing residents and visitors to local businesses around the clock. Streetscape improvements include decorative lighting, sidewalk upgrades, and landscaping.
Although no singular formula exists for a complete street, an effective one includes at least some of the following features:
- Sidewalks
- Bus pullouts
- Bike lanes
- Special bus lanes
- Wide shoulders
- Pedestrian scale lighting
- Raised crosswalks
- Plenty of crosswalks
- Audible pedestrian signals
- Refuge medians
- Sidewalk bump-outs (bulb-outs)
The practice of complete streets is not only about allocation of street space, but also about selecting a design speed that is appropriate to the street typology and location, and that allows for safe movements by all road users.
Transit stop improvements within Amsterdam encourage the use of public transportation and act as a key element in enhancing active transportation throughout the community. With CDTA now serving the area, complete streets will also assist and be supportive to their initiative of creating healthier and safer streets and modes of travel for our residents.
Implementation of a Bicycle Boulevard system can be as simple as selecting routes, distributing information, and identifying Bicycle Boulevards in the community with an integrated system of signage and pavement markings.
The City aims through this proposed project to develop concepts, derived through community and stakeholder engagement, to transform Main Street and Bridge Street into a walking-oriented “Main Street” that is safe for cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists, is served by high quality transit, builds foot traffic for local businesses, encourages interaction in public spaces, and adds vibrancy to the community.
Public Meeting #1