Four Mohawk Valley projects will share $7 million for trails, sidewalks and safer connections, including work in Boonville, Clinton and Herkimer County.
Mohawk Valley transportation grants announced Wednesday will send $7 million to four local projects designed to make walking, bicycling and trail access safer and more practical.
The regional awards are part of more than $97 million going to 35 projects across New York through the federal Transportation Alternatives Program. The New York State Department of Transportation administers the program.
The largest local award is $4.2 million for the Village of Boonville. The village plans an integrated system of pedestrian, bicycle, trail and streetscape improvements. Clinton will receive $840,000 to extend the Chenango Canal Trail by 2,000 feet. Herkimer County was awarded $527,200 for access improvements at the Acme Road entrance to the Empire State Trail. The Village of Northville will receive $1.4 million for a multi-use path along South Main Street and South Main Street Extension.
Where the Mohawk Valley funding will go
Boonville: $4.2 million
Boonville’s project is the region’s largest award. State officials described it as an integrated network rather than one isolated sidewalk. Bringing pedestrian paths, bicycle facilities, trails and streetscape work together can help connect homes, businesses, schools and public spaces.
The announcement does not provide the final route, construction schedule or design drawings. Those details will matter to residents and business owners as the village moves through engineering, approvals and construction.
Clinton: $840,000
Clinton plans a 2,000-foot extension of the Chenango Canal Trail. A completed link can make an existing trail more useful by connecting it to destinations or eliminating a gap where people otherwise must use a roadway.
Herkimer County: $527,200
The Herkimer County award will improve access at the Acme Road entrance to the Empire State Trail. Entrance improvements can affect whether a trail works for families, older adults and people with disabilities. Safe parking, visible connections, curb design and accessible surfaces often determine who can use a public facility comfortably.
Northville: $1.4 million
Northville, in Fulton County, will build a multi-use path along South Main Street and its extension. Although Northville sits toward the eastern edge of the Mohawk Valley region, the project is part of the same regional transportation award.
How the state program works
The Transportation Alternatives Program supports public projects tied to the surface transportation system. Eligible uses include safe routes to school, sidewalks, pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements, public-transit access and trail networks.
The new statewide awards include $16.9 million for safe routes to school, $52.8 million for sidewalk, pedestrian and bicycle safety, $11 million for multimodal connections and $16.5 million for trail networks and shared-use paths.
Projects were selected competitively. Individual awards must be at least $500,000 and no more than $7 million. The state says federal funds can cover up to 80 percent of eligible costs, while the sponsor must provide at least a 20 percent match. Eligible costs can include planning, engineering, right-of-way acquisition, construction and inspection.
That structure matters because a grant does not necessarily cover the entire bill. Local sponsors must budget for their match and manage expenses that may not qualify for reimbursement.
Why these projects matter locally
In rural and small-town communities, a missing sidewalk or trail connection can be more than an inconvenience. It may force a student to walk near traffic, prevent a wheelchair user from reaching a destination or make a short trip possible only by car.
Well-designed paths can also support local businesses and tourism. A trail user who can safely reach a village center may stop at restaurants, stores or community events. Connections to the Empire State Trail can bring visitors through communities that are otherwise bypassed.
The environmental benefit is modest for any single trip, but a connected network can give residents a realistic alternative to driving for short errands, school travel and recreation. The health value also comes from making daily physical activity easier and safer.
Rep. John Mannion, whose district includes parts of Central New York and the Mohawk Valley, said the awards in Clinton, Manlius and Skaneateles will improve connections and make travel to schools and outdoor spaces safer.
Accessibility should be part of final design
The strongest projects will work for residents of different ages and abilities. That means more than paving a path. Curb ramps, grades, crosswalk timing, surface quality, rest areas and safe street crossings all affect accessibility.
Residents can watch for local public meetings and design presentations as plans advance. Questions worth asking include where the route begins and ends, whether it closes a known gap, how winter maintenance will be handled and whether the design meets current accessibility standards.
Construction can temporarily affect traffic, parking and business access. Municipalities should provide clear notices before work begins and explain detours in plain language.
A new round, not the 2024 award
Utica Phoenix published a similar statewide transportation announcement in 2024, when New York distributed $97.7 million through the same federal program. Wednesday’s announcement is a separate 2026 award round with a new project list, including the four Mohawk Valley investments detailed here. Readers can review the earlier Phoenix report for comparison.
What happens next
The awards allow project sponsors to proceed, but they do not mean construction begins immediately. Municipal projects normally require agreements, design work, environmental review, right-of-way work where needed, bidding and construction management.
Residents should look to their village or county government for project-specific schedules and opportunities to comment. The governor’s full announcement lists all 35 projects statewide.
Which walking, bicycle or trail connection would make the biggest difference in your community? Share a specific location in the comments so neighbors and local officials can see where residents encounter gaps.
How residents can follow the work
Each sponsor will control its own design and construction process. Boonville, Clinton, Northville and Herkimer County should eventually publish procurement notices, board resolutions or project updates. Residents can also review municipal meeting agendas and minutes, where contracts, matching funds and design changes are normally approved. People living near a proposed route should pay attention before final design, when feedback about crossings, drainage, lighting and driveway conflicts is most useful.
