In 2013, the City submitted and was awarded funding from the NYS DOT Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP) for a 3.1 mile segment of the ORT. In 2014, the City applied for the NYS DOT Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) for a second phase of the ORT, a 0.8 mile segment through City Center. Combined, these two DOT funded segments of the ORT are bringing over $1.6 Million in new investment to the City of Oneida. Construction on the 3.9 miles of trail will began Summer 2018. The section was completed in the Summer of 2020.
The project will resurface and enhance portions of the West Shore Railbed and the New York Central Railbed and repurpose a historic railroad bridge over Cowaselon Creek. Downtown improvements from this project include complete resurfacing of Oneida St, an added 10 ft wide multi-use path, new landscaping, new sidewalks and curbing, and a new pedestrian plaza for City Center.
Timeline of the 3.9 mile segment funded by NYS DOT:
September 22, 2018
Trail paving Oneida Streets East & West in Oneida’s City Center.
September 20, 2018
The deck of the bridge over Cowaselon Creek at Hubbard Place on the Oneida Rail Trail is being poured this morning!
September 11, 2018:
The rail crossing stampcrete was poured and stamped today in the pedestrian plaza
August 14, 2018
CCI, the awarded contractor on the job, started work on the rehab of the railroad bridge over Cowaselon Creek (Pic 1), the addition of the 10-ft wide multi-use path on Oneida St west (Pic 2), and started constructing the pedestrian plaza in downtown (Pic 3).
July 23, 2018:
The City of Oneida DPW workers began construction on the parts they are doing for the ORT.
These photos are from along Freighthouse Alley in downtown Oneida:
July 19, 2018:
Construction has started! Madison County Highway Department is hard at work on the trail connection down to Lenox Ave. Here are some photos of the progress:
Up on the berm looking south – 365A/Lenox Ave is behind the dozer (Photo on the left)
Looking west on 365A/Lenox Ave. You can see the work being done on the right/north side. The 10 ft multi-use asphalt path seen is the “Lenox Ave spur trail” (Photo on the right)
July 16, 2018:
Groundbreaking ceremony takes place at 2 pm along the trail in Clinch Park to kick-off the construction of the 3.9 mile section of the ORT funded through NYS DOT TEP/TAP.
July 9, 2018:
CCI hosts a public Pre-Construction meeting held at the City Council Chambers to make downtown businesses aware of the construction schedule and answer any questions.
March 27, 2018:
Meeting with C&S, City, and County to mobilize and discuss pre-construction and finalize the proposed bid by CCI.
October 16, 2017:
City of Oneida received authorization from DOT to advertise TEP and TAP portions of the ORT to go out to bid.
Throughout 2016:
Numerous meetings held to coordinate the projects with Madison County, Village of Wampsville, other property owners, and City Departments. Design continues to be finalized.
October 29, 2015:
Second Design meeting with C&S. C&S presented current plan set, sketches of the parking area at Hubbard place, and sketches of the various “nodes” at Willow St and downtown.
June 30, 2015:
City and C&S hold a Public Information Meeting at the Kallet from 4-8 pm on the 3.9 miles of the ORT being developed through NYS DOT TEP/TAP. Handouts and displays were available for public comment.
May 13, 2015:
City/County meet with DOT and the design consultant, C&S, at the Parks and Rec building for the design phase kick-off
December 22, 2014:
C&S is selected as the consultant to carry out NYS DOT TEP and TAP trail sections
November 5, 2014:
SUNY ESF Landscape Architect students present on their Design Report created for the Oneida Rail Trail.
October 27, 2014:
Announcement that the City of Oneida was selected for NYS DOT TAP funding for 0.8 mile ORT: City Center section. Total funding is $716,000
September 10, 2014:
SUNY ESF LA Studio holds Public Input Meeting and Charette on the ORT at the City Rec Center from 6 – 8 pm
June 11, 2014:
NYS DOT TAP Application for a 0.8 mile section of the ORT is submitted to NYS DOT
January 16, 2014:
Informed that our NYS DOT TEP application was selected – in total $545,830 of funding will go to the 3.1 mile segment from the Old Erie Canal Trailhead in Wampsville to N. Willow Street in Oneida. It was 1 of 5 applications to win in CNY and 1 of 63 in the state.
August 16, 2013:
NYS DOT TEP Application for the 3.1 mile ORT segment is submitted to NYS DOT Region 2 office