Change for South Nyack Bus Shelters, Trailhead

SOUTH NYACK, NY — Members of the group Preserve South Nyack said they appreciate news from the village's mayor about two issues they feel threaten their neighborhood's quality of life — but they don't think it goes far enough.

The Lower Hudson Transit Link project team has agreed to relocate not one, but both TZ Express bus stops, away from the Clinton Avenue/South Franklin Street intersection, and The New NY Bridge project team has also agreed to scale down the design of the trail head at the Clinton Avenue/SouthFranklin Street intersection, Mayor Bonnie Christian told residents Thursday.

The bus shelters will be moved further south to the Franklin Street extension (right before the Thruway overpass).

As for the trailhead at the Clinton Avenue/SouthFranklin Street intersection, the new plan calls for reduced paving, removal of the stone columns and signage, and a marked increase in trees and other landscaping, "while still honoring the village's commitments to the plan (Alternative F) that we fought so hard to get," Christian said.

Jessica Jessica Hans-Smolin of Preserve South Nyack said everyone was pleased by the progress but not entirely satisfied.

"We are grateful to South Nyack residents, Preserve South Nyack, Mayor Christian, South Nyack Village Trustees, Sen David Carlucci and the LHTL Project Team for listening to and supporting residents and making these critical changes based on the needs and wishes of the community," she said.

But Preserve South Nyack and local community members do not want the Esposito Trail to serve as a bicycle connection between the bridge and South Nyack, she said.

"We have made great progress and are committed to continuing to urge the New NY Bridge Planning Team AND South Nyack Village Hall to consider Concept F Refined which would keep the Esposito Trail intact as an undeveloped nature trail and route cyclists directly onto South Broadway (in which case, Franklin would NOT have to be widened for a bike lane, also preserving green space from Clinton Ave to Cedar Hill," she said.

She urged community members to attend the next Village Trustee Meeting on Dec. 27 at 7:15 p.m.