Medina’s fast charging station project will be included with Canal Basin redesign

Rendering from Empire State Development and Governor’s Office: The Canal Basin parking lot along the Erie Canal will be turned into a “waterfront gateway” complete with green space, seating areas and boater/cyclist amenities as part of the NY Forward grant in Medina.

MEDINA – The village about two years ago was approved for a state grant to put in fast charging stations.

The state committed to a $245,184 grant for two direct-current fast charger pedestals. The project costs jumped to a projected $370,000 with National Grid and the state Department of Environmental Conservation to pay the additional expenses.

The village has been working with the Barton & Loguidice engineering firm on the design and engineering work for the project, which is planned for the Canal Basin. The stations, the first fast chargers in the county, would go in a median in the parking lot where there is access to three-phase electricity.

The project, however, is going to be handed off to the state which is doing a $1.345 million redesign of the basin and the parking lot.

The Village Board on Monday paid $3,750 to Matt Zarbo, a managing engineer with Barton & Loguidice. That money will be reimbursed by the state.

The state has its own firm working on the Canal Basin parking lot redesign. The basin will be transformed into a “waterfront gateway” with green space, seating areas and boater/cyclist amenities. It’s one of eight projects to be funded with a $4.5 NY Forward grant.

File photo by Tom Rivers: Medina’s fast-charging stations are planned for the Canal Basin near the median where there is access to electricity. There would be four spots with each station having two places to charge up electric vehicles.