Kingston gets $21.7M federal grant for waterfront

BY PETER KATZ Pkatz@westfairinc.com

The city of Kingston in Ulster County has been awarded a $21.7 million federal grant to support its waterfront revitalization program known as the Kingston Weaving the Waterfront Transportation Project. The money comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program. The $21.7 million is the largest grant award in Kingston’s history.

The project includes expanding the walkability of the waterfront, connecting residents from underserved neighborhoods, and making the area more accessible to help businesses attract customers.

Other elements of the project include improving safety and access to park spaces, developing walking and bike paths, preparing for a predicted rise in the water level of the Hudson River by elevating roadways in two areas that flood, East Strand and Delaware Avenue. The project also calls for the installation of three charging stations for electric vehicles.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has been among those pushing for the funding. In a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg lobbying for the money, Schumer said, “The proposed project will ignite economic growth by revitalizing the city’s picturesque waterfront while making it more accessible to Kingston residents seeking social services and job opportunities.”

Schumer also told Buttigieg, “The city of Kingston has worked closely with my office on its Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, locally prepared comprehensive land and water use plan for the city’s natural, public, and developed waterfront resources along the Hudson River and Rondout Creek.”

Kingston’s Mayor Steve Noble thanked Schumer and Rep. Pat Ryan, who formerly was the Ulster County Executive, for supporting the funding for Kingston.

“They see, like we do, Kingston’s need for connection to our breathtaking natural resources, making these assets accessible to residents of all abilities, and protecting our downtown homes and businesses from a changing climate,” Noble said. “This grant will not only make an entire neighborhood safer, it will beautify the area and bring sustainable growth to the waterfront.”

In a statement released after the grant was awarded, Schumer said, “This game changing $21+ million is the missing piece of the puzzle to help Kingston revitalize the downtown waterfront, bringing the city one step closer to achieving equity, creating good paying jobs, and bolstering economic development.”

At the same time, Rep. Pat Ryan said, “Both as County Executive and now in Congress, I’ve fought to deliver for Hudson Valley families, working to secure the infrastructure investments we need to revitalize our local economy and create good-paying jobs. This is an absolute game-changer for the city of Kingston and the region as a whole.”

Schumer said that Kingston and the Hudson Valley will benefit from other federal funding such as $11.5 billion in new highway funding for New York state. This amount includes an estimated $289 million for New York in Transportation Alternatives funds to build walking and biking facilities. Local entities like the Ulster County bus system, UCAT, will also get a major boost with $8,062,133 in direct funding, which is on top of the nearly $5 million UCAT received in the CARES Act, and $1,310,895 from the American Rescue Plan. Schumer also had secured $17.3 million in flexible local aid for the city of Kingston in the American Rescue Plan.