Erie Boulevard Redesign Wins APWA State and Local Project of the Year Award

The redesign and reconstruction of Erie Boulevard in Schenectady, New York has received the 2014 “Project of the Year Award” from the American Public Works Association (APWA). CHA Consulting Inc. was an award recipient for the design and construction management of the multi-year project.  The project received honors at both the Capital Region level and for all of New York State in the Transportation Category for projects between $5 and $25 million.

The city is very pleased with the outcome of the project.  According to  Mayor Gary McCarthy, "The redesign of Erie Boulevard by CHA into a pedestrian friendly and commercially welcoming area represents a major milestone for the city of Schenectady's ongoing transformation. This new image for the gateway to our downtown reinforces the idea that we are a city where people want to live and work."

Safety upgrades to Erie Boulevard, between I-890 near the General Electric campus and Union Street, a main entrance to the City of Schenectady, were completed in October. Traffic calming and upgrades to pedestrian facilities made this section of Erie Boulevard safer for vehicles and pedestrians alike. This road follows the alignment of the old Erie Canal, which presented challenges for the design and construction teams. The roadway and drainage systems were designed to minimize disruption to the underlying canal remains and underground private utilities.