The Town of New Castle is soon expected to select a consultant that will begin the design of the long-awaited ChapLine, a proposed 1.7-mile trail for pedestrians and bicyclists extending from Chappaqua Crossing to downtown.
At the upcoming August Town Board meeting scheduled for August 12, officials will likely announce the consultant that will undertake the design, which will include a survey, design documents, an updated construction estimate and assistance in complying with the state Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), said New Castle Supervisor Victoria Tipp. A Request for Qualifications for services was put out by the Town Board in April.
Tipp predicted that the ChapLine when it is completed will have “a truly transformative impact” on the town and the lives of its residents, especially with the potential of enticing more people to walk from one side of the hamlet to the other, which would potentially reduce motor vehicle trips. About 6,500 people live in the immediate area of the Chappaqua hamlet, and there are 91 townhomes and 64 residential units in the cupola building at Chappaqua Crossing, she said.
“It’s going to be an impactful project that will have a positive effect on the town’s growth and well-being, and it will be a vital part of our infrastructure by linking key areas of our town and making them more accessible,” Tipp said.
The project would be completed in three separate phases. Construction for the first phase would likely start on Roaring Brook Road and proceed to the town’s bird sanctuary near Lawrence Farms South, Tipp explained. Phase 2 would pick up from that point to the north end of the Metro-North easement, which is at the northern point of the Chestnut Oaks condominium property. The final phase would proceed through the south end of the railroad easement and end at Bischoff Street and North Greeley Avenue, she said.
Each phase will be independent of the other, so the trail could be used by the public after the completion of each stage, according to Tipp. The path would consist of asphalt and sections of boardwalk and a truss bridge over a gorge near the northern end closest to Roaring Brook Road. The wooden boardwalk portion would rise over wetlands and stream crossings to minimize disturbance.
Tipp said there would also be bike sharing options, benches, water-fill stations and signage.
It would follow a county sewer trunk line through the woods limiting environmental impact on the area, the supervisor said. It would also only use town-owned land, thereby avoiding the need for easements and permission from private property owners and the Chappaqua Central School District.
“This would not be an original disturbance of the area,” Tipp said. “The area has already been cleared and disturbed by the Westchester County sewer trunk line.”
Tipp expects work on the design to begin in the fall but was unable to provide estimates on how long it would take or the duration of the construction phases.
New Castle has set aside $7.25 million for the ChapLine, including a $5 million Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant secured with letters of support by State Senator Peter Harckham, Assemblyman Chris Burdick, Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, Westchester Board of Legislators Chair Vedat Gashi, the Chappaqua Central School District, Teatown Lake Reservation and the Saw Mill River Audubon Society. That grant, which will be overseen by the state Department of Transportation, requires a $1.25 million match from the town. At that time, the estimate for the project was roughly $11 million, but an updated cost will be provided by the consultant.
Burdick said he and Harckham were pleased to help New Castle secure a significant piece of funding for a project that has been discussed for nearly a decade. A presentation for the $5 million grant was made to the Town Board in January for money that is highly sought after from communities throughout the state.
“We worked very hard to get this,” Burdick said. “What we tried to do is ensure the pots of money are there for grant applications that the municipalities are bidding for.”
The TAP money will be combined with a previously obtained $500,000 Climate Smart Communities grant, which requires a full match from the town. Additional grant applications can be submitted as the town moves the process along, Tipp said.
“More grants are likely once you have shovel-ready projects, and this will be more than shovel-ready,” she said.
Other town officials pointed to how the ChapLine promises to enhance the recreational experience for residents.
“We are always looking to expand our recreational opportunities in town,” said Town Administrator Robert Deary. “The ChapLine trail will provide our residents with accessible space for walking, biking, running or just enjoying nature. I’m confident the community will enjoy this amenity for years to come.”
Ike Kuzio, the town’s superintendent of Recreation & Parks, said he views the ChapLine’s development as something that will bring New Castle closer.
“I think it’s a great opportunity just to connect the two areas,” Kuzio said. “Between downtown Chappaqua and up toward the Reader’s Digest property with all the development that’s going on up there, plus the high school, I just think it’s a great opportunity to connect these spaces.”
Student athletes from Horace Greeley High School, including members of the track and cross-country teams, have been seen training along Route 117 without sidewalks. The ChapLine would provide them with a safer place to run.
In addition to recreation, Tipp said the trail would help support the revitalization of the Chappaqua hamlet, provide additional commuting options, make the bird sanctuary a significant educational asset and improve the quality of life, including socially, for residents who live in different parts of the community.
“It’s important to understand the varied economic, environmental, educational and social benefits the trail will have in connecting the Chappaqua hamlet to Horace Greeley High School and Chappaqua Crossing,” Tipp said.
She credited the support from county and state officials and the school district as well as the environmental groups for New Castle to keep the vision of the ChapLine alive.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see the project begin to take place with a clear plan,” Tipp said. “I am deeply grateful to everyone whose hard work made this possible, especially our staff whose ongoing efforts have been essential in getting us to this point.”
