Penfield board reviews roughly $1.5M in sidewalk priorities and funding options

Planning staff presented a prioritized sidewalk list for 2027 that totaled about 1.5 miles of new sidewalks with estimated construction costs near $1.5 million, and asked the board to give direction on prioritization given budget constraints.

Mark Valentine said the list’s top segments include Atlantic to Saldo (a petitioned area), Atlantic to Baird (costly because of two creek/culvert crossings), a Hatch Road section north of the schools, and a longer Wayland Road frontage that would be expensive to construct. He noted that the draft active transportation plan recommends widened 10‑foot shared sections in one or two locations but clarified the current cost estimates assume a standard 5‑foot concrete sidewalk; a 10‑foot section would roughly double those costs.

Valentine explained three funding buckets: sidewalk‑in‑lieu revenues (budgeted $30,000 for the year, $12,200 received as of May 31), special‑district funds for neighborhoods with existing sidewalks, and general‑fund lines for sidewalk maintenance and new construction (maintenance fund budgeted $84,000 with $35,500 remaining; new sidewalks line budgeted $50,000 with encumbrances leaving ~$41,000 available). Board members discussed leveraging county match programs like past ARPA‑supported 50% matching funds and pursuing Safe Routes to School/TAP grants when notices are released in the fall.

No final priority order was adopted at the work session; staff asked for board direction on which segments to move forward in design and potential grant applications.