Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the origin of this study?
The study comes out of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council’s (NYMTC) Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), which annually defines planning priorities within its planning area and describes all federally funded, transportation-related planning activities anticipated each year. The study area is already a popular walking, biking, and rolling corridor, and this study will also help to address existing connectivity and safety issues while serving current and future users.
2. Who is funding the study?
The study is federally funded and is managed by New York Metropolitan Transportation Council’s (NYMTC), which is a regional council that is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for New York City, Long Island, and the Lower Hudson Valley. The study is guided by NYMTC’s Mid-Hudson South Transportation Coordinating Committee (TCC), which is responsible to the federal funding agencies for meeting all federal requirements for the implementation and completion of the study.
3. What is the study timeline?
The study began in Summer 2023 and is due to be completed in Winter 2025. The first phase of the project from late 2023 to early 2024 looked at existing conditions of the study area, including physical characteristics such as topography and land use, social characteristics such as demographics and equity, and transportation considerations such as historic bicycle and pedestrian crash locations and existing road traffic. From March through May of 2024, the study team is holding a series of community workshops to gather input on the project. The team will then draft a study report based on the workshops and technical analysis and submit it for public review in late 2024 to early 2025. The final study report will incorporate the feedback received, as appropriate, and be published in early 2025.
4. What is the purpose of the study? What are the study outcomes?
The study's purpose is to determine whether a shared use path through the Palisades region connecting the George Washington Bridge and the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge is feasible from a technical, financial, and community perspective. The study’s final report will include an assessment of that feasibility, as well as potential alignments of a continuous path through the study corridor and opportunities for improved safety, connectivity, amenities, gathering spaces, and aesthetic elements. Based on these recommendations, the final report will identify next steps after the study. Because this is a feasibility study, it does not include detailed design, funding for implementation, or an environmental review process.
5. What are the next steps after the study?
Once the study is complete, the member agencies of NYMTC and the North Jersey Transportation Authority, NYMTC’s system MPO in northern New Jersey, will use the information and recommendations of the study to consider future opportunities. This could mean a decision to take no future action or a decision to move forward with a design phase. The design phase could include detailed path designs, an environmental impact study, and identification of funding for implementation.
6. Is an environmental assessment part of this study?
No, an environmental assessment is not a part of this study. The outcomes of this feasibility study are high-level recommendations that are not detailed enough to form the basis of an environmental assessment. An environmental assessment could be conducted as part of a future design study if that option is pursued.
7. How does the study consider safety for different types of users?
This is a high-level feasibility study that will consider different types of path arrangements and design concepts with respect to user safety, community safety, physical conditions (e.g., topography), and accommodating a variety of activities.
8. How will e-bikes and micro mobility considerations be incorporated into the study?
A combination of trail design and operational policies (such as speed limits and vehicle restrictions) will be considered to promote the safe use of e-mobility and micromobility devices (such as e-bike and e-scooters) while respectfully sharing the trail with other users.
9. How can I be more involved, ask questions, or share comments?
We welcome your feedback! Contact us if you have questions and comments or would like to be added to the email list. Get involved in upcoming engagement opportunities or learn about past engagements.