Westchester County Executive George Latimer has included $1.3 million in his proposed 2022 County budget to conduct an environmental review of the extension of the Westchester RiverWalk beneath the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. In partnership with the environmental organization Scenic Hudson, Latimer is working to advance the project to shovel-ready status, so it may be eligible for funds from the recently passed $1.2 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The 0.9-mile stretch of the RiverWalk beneath the bridge has long been considered a critical “missing link” in efforts to complete the 51-mile trail spanning the length of Westchester’s Hudson waterfront.
The Act invests $11 billion in transportation safety, including safer paths and crossings for bicyclists and pedestrians. In addition to connecting current RiverWalk segments in Tarrytown and Irvington, the extension is envisioned to link to the bridge’s shared-use path, making it a viable option for Rockland County commuters to access nearby jobs and Metro-North stations across the river.
Latimer said: “The RiverWalk project means an opportunity for recreation, the ability for a car-free commute to jobs and shops, less traffic congestion and pollution, and a boost to Westchester’s tourism economy. All are benefits that County residents and visitors will receive from the RiverWalk extension. This game-changing investment in the project will move it one step closer to construction — and increase its potential for receiving funds from the recently enacted federal infrastructure bill to complete it.”
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said: “I look forward to being partners with the federal government, the County, our local communities, and others to provide help for the Riverwalk project.”
Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Planning Norma Drummond said: “RiverWalk began as a vision on a napkin 20 years ago by County Executive Spano and we have been working with the local partners on each piece to get a continuous trail as close to the river as possible. Studying this piece of the RiverWalk is extremely important to be sure we are as environmentally sensitive as possible.”
Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan said: “We are grateful to County Executive Latimer for proposing this visionary funding that will knit together so many communities along Westchester’s magnificent riverfront. We look forward to working with him to secure support for it in the county Legislature and, moving forward, seeking to secure additional funding from the federal infrastructure bill for this extraordinary collaborative project.”
Scenic Hudson has been leading collaborative efforts to complete the extension. The project has drawn widespread endorsement from the business community (including the Business Council of Westchester, Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation and Westchester County Association), the four municipalities around the extension (Briarcliff Manor, Irvington, Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown), and many of the region’s bicycling organizations.
On November 17, the Tarrytown Village Board of Trustees passed a resolution expressing the Village’s commitment to serve as lead agency in the Environmental Review. This reflects the great working relationships of Westchester County, Scenic Hudson and the Village and their collective resolve to get this project to the finish line.
Other partners in this initiative include Metro-North Railroad, New York State Thruway Authority and Department of State.
