Albion town officials would like sidewalk extended on 31 to Butts Road with crosswalk

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Sidewalks run along the south side of East Avenue but stop across the road from St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.

Albion town officials would like to see a joint project with the town and village to extend sidewalks to the Butts Road intersection and then going north on Butts past a healthcare site and then to a UConnectCare residence.

The Albion Town Board discussed the issue during its board meeting on Monday evening. The board said it will reach out to the village about a joint effort, and also see if there is any state funding to help with the sidewalk.

Mike Neidert, the Albion town highway superintendent, said he the sidewalks would be safer for pedestrians and people using scooters and wheelchairs to go to the healthcare facility and UConnectCare.

“This would be a great project,” he said. “There are a lot of pluses.”

Orleans Community Health in 2012 opened the healthcare center at the northeast corner of Butts Road and Route 31.

UConnectCare last November opened a residence that can serve up to 25 women including 5 bedrooms for women with young children.

Neidert said both UConnectCare and Orleans Community Health would like an extended sidewalk down Route 31 and on the section of Butts Road, as well as a crosswalk at the intersection.

The highway superintendent said the town and village could discuss having mucnipal employees install the sidewalks. He estimated there would be about 600 feet of sidewalks that the town would be responsible for, while the village would have about 1,500 feet.

He would like to see the town and village leaders reach out to Assemblyman Steve Hawley and State Sen. Rob Ortt to see if they could secure funding for materials for the sidewalks. He estimated the materials for 600 feet of sidewalks for the town’s portion would be about $10,000.

Mike Neidert, the Albion highway superintendent, would also like a cross walk at the intersection.