Holley mayor identifies locations for new sidewalks
Project will be phased in over 3 to 4 years
HOLLEY – Mayor Brian Sorochty is thrilled with the announcement from Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday that the village has been approved for a $1,780,000 state grant to construct curbs and sidewalks that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“We are very happy and excited,” Brian Sorochty said. “This is a big one for us to win.”
He thanked the village’s grantwriter, J. O’Connell & Associates for the firm’s work on the grant application.
Sorochty said the village has been discussing how to repair/replace sidewalks for quite some time.
The grant will allow the village to replace about one-third of the sidewalks in the village, he said. That includes sidewalk along Rt. 237 – both north and south of Rt. 31 to the village limits, as well as Geddes Street from Rt. 237 to the Public Square, and all sidewalks north of Rt. 31 and east Rt. 237 – the northeast quadrant of the village.
“That will be a huge amount of new sidewalk that is code compliant and ADA compliant with ramps at intersections,” Sorochty said.
The program phases the improvements out over a three or four year span, he said.The first year will include engineering and planning work and then construction will be completed in phases over a couple of years.
The village Department of Public Works will be completing much of the work and the phases will help to complete the project in, “manageable chunks,” Sorochty said.
As part of the grant application process, residents were asked to submit letters, explaining their need for safer walkability in the village. Those letters were an important part of the village receiving the grant.
“It made a big difference,” the mayor said. “We need the new sidewalk… the current infrastructure has been in poor shape for years.”
Connie Nenni was one of the village trustees who pushed for Holley to apply for the grant.
“I am beyond excited about the village receiving the TAP grant for sidewalks,” Nenni said. “It is such a great thing not only for the village but for the entire community. Many people that do not live in the village use the village to walk or run or trick-or-treat. It will be a huge benefit to so many.”
