This document summarizes advocacy efforts over 4 years to promote active transportation infrastructure in Ulster County, New York. Various groups formed between 2007-2010 to advocate for improvements like bike lanes, trails, and sidewalks. Momentum grew as the County adopted Complete Streets policies, Kingston installed its first bike sharrows in 2012, and a 3-mile rail trail began construction in fall 2015. Through education, events, and small grants, advocates helped secure over $4.3 million for active transportation projects connecting Kingston to surrounding towns. Lessons learned emphasized starting small, educating policymakers, and planning for long-term sustainability of advocacy work and infrastructure improvements.

1. Ulster County, NY

2. Ulster County, New York
Population (2010) 182,483
1,161 square miles
3 villages, 20 towns and 1 city
1 hour to drive from southernmost point to northernmost point

4. Our Story
How we built and strengthened advocacy for active transportation over four years in a mostly rural county where little existed before.
How that advocacy is now seeing the fruits of its labor.

5. The Players

6. Prior to 2010
County updates non-motorized transportation plan (2008)
County established Ulster County Trail Advisory Committee (2008)
County passes Complete Streets policy (2009)
Active bike-ped advocacy group exists in New Paltz, NY

7. Inklings of a Movement Begin
2007 - Bike-Friendly Kingston group forms
2010 – Complete Streets and Safe Routes to Schools and Parks committees forms with funding from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County
2010 – Kingston Land Trust forms Kingston Rail Trail committee

8. The Momentum Gains
By the end of 2010
Kingston’s Common Council adopts a Complete Streets policy establishing a Complete Streets Advisory Council.
City of Kingston School District celebrates first Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day.
Bike-Friendly Kingston begins meeting more regularly.
Kingston Land Trust is awarded several grants to study feasibility of an urban rail trail.

9. The Momentum Gains
Mid-2010 - Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County is awarded a 5-year grant from the NYS Department of Health called Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work, and Play
Deliverables of this grant include passing Complete Streets policies in 3 small towns/rural villages in Ulster County

10. The Momentum Gains – Kingston Complete Streets Advisory Council
2011 – With help from Gilmour Planning, the CSAC completes:
SWOT analysis
Code audit
A benefit-cost analysis and case study of Broadway as a Complete Street
Complete Streets Forum
A draft 3-year strategic plan

11. The Momentum Gains – Safe Routes to Schools and Parks Committee
2011 – 2012
Audit of sidewalks with GPS
A National Safe Routes to School course
A Safe Routes Action Plan
Safe Routes maps for parents and engineers
Development of WBR Day and a Walking School Bus

12. The Momentum Gains – Bike- Friendly Kingston
2012 – develops proposal for sharrow installation in Kingston
BFK maps desired bike routes and locations of bike racks in Kingston.

13. The Momentum Gains – Kingston Land Trust & The Kingston Greenline
Vision emerges for a regional “hub” for the county’s rail trail system
Land Trust Alliance funds development of a Conceptual Plan for the Greenline
Concept identifies off- street trails, linear parks, complete streets, and connections to other active transportation infrastructure
Completed feasibility study for initial 3-mile section: the Kingston Point Rail Trail

14. The Momentum Gains – Kingston Land Trust & The Kingston Greenline
Public/private partnership evolves, with KLT playing lead role in community outreach and engagement
Volunteer groups recruited to begin maintenance of the Greenline
You guys need help?
Are we pushing?
No, we’re pulling!

15. Advocacy Successes – Complete Streets Advisory Council
Common Council passes resolution approving the I-587 study placing the project on the TIP for 2016.
Sidewalk/Tree Root Conflict Workshop and Complete Streets Workshop with Alta Planning

16. Advocacy Successes – Kingston Complete Streets Advisory Council
Sidewalk Taskforce begins to collect information and meet.
Complete Streets concepts are a key part of the draft Comprehensive Plan for Kingston.

17. Advocacy Successes – Safe Routes to Schools and Parks
One Walking School Bus celebrates 3 years of walking.
City of Kingston Schools celebrate Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day for 4 years.

18. Advocacy Successes – Safe Routes to Schools and Parks
City of Kingston wins $489,000 Safe Routes to School grant from NYSDOT for sidewalk, pedheads, and flashing speed signs

19. Advocacy Successes – Bike- Friendly Kingston
Successful Feast on Two Wheels fundraiser raising $2000 for the bike sharrow effort.
Working with City of Kingston to paint the first bike sharrows in Ulster County.

20. Advocacy Successes – Kingston Land Trust & The Kingston Greenline
Construction of KPRT set to begin in fall!
Expanding partnerships, including National Assoc. of Realtors
Neighborhood door-to-door outreach campaign to build support and identify challenges

21. Advocacy Successes – The Kingston Connectivity Project
$4.3 million in funding
Builds on the various group efforts and ties us all together
For extending rail trails from a hub in Kingston and Complete Streets upgrades to Broadway

22. Advocacy Successes – The Kingston Connectivity Project
Ulster County Planning funded Broadway study to supplement the funding

23. Advocacy Successes – Creating Healthy Places

24. Advocacy Successes – Creating Healthy Places Saugerties
A new Saugerties Transportation Advisory Council is forming.
Saugerties will install sharrows on a bike route this fall.

25. Advocacy Successes – Creating Healthy Places Ellenville
A new Complete Streets Advisory Council is forming in Ellenville
Ellenville holds a Walkabout Scavenger Hunt and Celebration

26. Advocacy Successes – Creating Healthy Places
Kingston Parks and Rec gets bike racks to place in parks and a bike trailer with 13 bikes for programs!

27. Lessons Learned
Start small with advocacy building grants.
Build outreach tools that emphasize that Complete Streets can be for small communities as well.
Educate policy-makers first. Their support is key.
Be lucky and have or vote in policymakers/government officials who see the value of active transportation.

28. Lessons Learned
Find ways to integrate Complete Streets concepts into other policy documents and plans (i.e. Comprehensive Plan, Parks Master Plan, etc.).
Fun events help build support.
Plan for long-term sustainability.

29. Thank you.
Kristen Wilson kew67@cornell.edu
Tim Weidemann
tim@rondoutconsulting.com