Gov. Hochul Announces Start Of $5.7 Million Complete Streets Project In Saratoga Springs Simulated Mass Casualty Training at Saratoga Spa State Park - Volunteers Sought to Portray Concertgoers

SARATOGA SPRINGS —

SARATOGA SPRINGS —

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on April 5 that work is getting underway on a $5.7 million project to enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety along Union Avenue in the City of Saratoga Springs.

“Expanding bicycle and pedestrian access is an essential part of our commitment to invest in infrastructure that reconnects communities and provides new opportunities for recreation, tourism and economic growth,” Hochul said in a statement.

“This Complete Streets project in Saratoga Springs will add to the charm of this historic upstate city and make it easier for residents and visitors to explore all that it has to offer without getting in their cars.”

The project was planned and designed to fulfill the goals of the New York State Department of Transportation’s “Complete Streets” initiative to consider safe, convenient access and mobility for roadway users of all ages and abilities.

Last August, the governor designated Union Avenue as “Marylou Whitney Way.”

As part of the project, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will install a new sidewalk compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act on the north side of Union Avenue to connect Polk Avenue and the New York Racing Association Gate 16 with

East Avenue. Five-foot-wide bike lanes will be painted in both directions between East Avenue and Henning Road.

An approximately three-mile stretch of Union Avenue between East Avenue and the bridge over Saratoga Lake will be surfaced and new drainage structures will be added between East Avenue and Henning Road to improve storm water runoff. Westbound Union Avenue will be reduced to one lane during construction; however, no work will be allowed to take place during the summer racing season. The remainder of the work will resume after Labor Day. The entire project is scheduled to be completed by June 2024.

New York State Park Police will conduct a simulated training exercise focusing on a mass casualty response on April 30, at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). The training will focus on coordination and emergency response during several simulated scenarios envisioning an incident involving injuries to a large number of concertgoers at the venue.

The public should be advised that a noticeable increase in police presence will be visible throughout the exercises near SPAC inside Saratoga Spa State Park which begin on April 30 at 8 a.m. ending at 12 p.m.

The exercise will involve personnel from Park Police, New York State Police, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Saratoga Springs City Police and Fire Departments, local EMS Agencies as well as operations staff from Saratoga Spa State Park, Live Nation and SPAC. Additionally, Saratoga Hospital, Albany Medical Center and their regional partners will concurrently be exercising how the simulated event will affect their emergency plans.

The area around SPAC will be closed to the public. All area traffic will be alerted to the exercises at all entry points into the park. Weapons used during training exercises are incapable of firing a live duty round.

Park Police are seeking volunteers to portray concertgoers from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers should provide name, phone and email to contact information. Volunteers will need to provide a signed volunteer service agreement at the time of service. A copy is available at: parks.ny.gov/documents/insideour-agency/PublicDocuments/ PermitsVolunteerServiceAgreeme ntEnglish.pdf.

Send completed volunteer agreements and questions concerning volunteers to ParksEmergencyMgmt-Exercises@ parks.ny.gov. Refreshments will be available.