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Town of Dryden Receives $3M Grant for Rail Trail
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced that over 30 municipalities received grant funding for projects that “promote alternative, environmentally friendly modes of travel, such as walking, biking or hiking,” including the town of Dryden.
The town of Dryden is set to receive $3 million to “construct a new segment and upgrade existing segments” of the Dryden Rail Trail.
“I am grateful to see that the town of Dryden is receiving funding that will enhance pedestrians’ experience and provide upgrades along areas frequently visited by our community for the Dryden Rail Trail,” State Sen. Lea Webb said.
According to Rail Trail Task Force chair Alice Green, the funding will enable the town to:
* Add a new 1.1-mile trail section from Pinckney Road to Route 366
* Make ADA accessible the 3.2-mile section of the trail from Freeville to Dryden village with a uniform stone dust surface
* Add 14 concrete rest landings on a steep slope at George Road trail to make it ADA accessible
* Build an Etna parking area and road crossing treatment at Route 366
* Repair the bridge over Egypt Creek off Springhouse Road
* Finish signage, amenities and crossing treatments at all intersections in the two open sections of the trail
“The town of Dryden thanks the Governor for her continued support of the Dryden Rail Trail,” Town Supervisor Jason Leifer said. “This grant will allow Dryden to begin Phase 3 of the project, which includes ADA access in several locations, stone dust surfacing, safe road crossings and parking.”
It's the second time that the town has received a grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), which is administered by the New York State Department of Transportation. The first grant was $1.5 million, which was put toward the cost of the pedestrian bridge over Route 13.
The pedestrian bridge is slated for completion soon, Green said.
“People need safe, off-road ways to travel between our communities, and these routes should be accessible to people of all abilities,” Assemblymember Anna Kelles said. “This $3 million award will help close a gap in the Dryden Rail Trail by building a new segment and making existing sections ADA accessible."
"These additions will ensure equal access to nature, and the connected trail will give people another way to reach work, school and local destinations without having to rely on a car," she said.
-Kevin L. Smith, Tompkins Weekly, 10/27/26
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced that over 30 municipalities received grant funding for projects that “promote alternative, environmentally friendly modes of travel, such as walking, biking or hiking,” including the town of Dryden.
The town of Dryden is set to receive $3 million to “construct a new segment and upgrade existing segments” of the Dryden Rail Trail.
“I am grateful to see that the town of Dryden is receiving funding that will enhance pedestrians’ experience and provide upgrades along areas frequently visited by our community for the Dryden Rail Trail,” State Sen. Lea Webb said.
According to Rail Trail Task Force chair Alice Green, the funding will enable the town to:
* Add a new 1.1-mile trail section from Pinckney Road to Route 366
* Make ADA accessible the 3.2-mile section of the trail from Freeville to Dryden village with a uniform stone dust surface
* Add 14 concrete rest landings on a steep slope at George Road trail to make it ADA accessible
* Build an Etna parking area and road crossing treatment at Route 366
* Repair the bridge over Egypt Creek off Springhouse Road
* Finish signage, amenities and crossing treatments at all intersections in the two open sections of the trail
“The town of Dryden thanks the Governor for her continued support of the Dryden Rail Trail,” Town Supervisor Jason Leifer said. “This grant will allow Dryden to begin Phase 3 of the project, which includes ADA access in several locations, stone dust surfacing, safe road crossings and parking.”
It's the second time that the town has received a grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), which is administered by the New York State Department of Transportation. The first grant was $1.5 million, which was put toward the cost of the pedestrian bridge over Route 13.
The pedestrian bridge is slated for completion soon, Green said.
“People need safe, off-road ways to travel between our communities, and these routes should be accessible to people of all abilities,” Assemblymember Anna Kelles said. “This $3 million award will help close a gap in the Dryden Rail Trail by building a new segment and making existing sections ADA accessible."
"These additions will ensure equal access to nature, and the connected trail will give people another way to reach work, school and local destinations without having to rely on a car," she said.
-Kevin L. Smith, Tompkins Weekly, 10/27/26
News and Events
Fall Food System Forum, Nov. 11th
Please join us for the Tompkins Fall Food System Forum hosted by Tompkins Food Future.
This event is free and welcomes anyone who shares our commitment to create a more resilient, equitable, and healthy food system. Please share with your networks.
Lunch will be provided thanks to the generous support of Food Bank of the Southern Tier.
Children ages 4-12 are invited to enjoy the Fall Forum through on-site nature-based programming offered in partnership with Wellspring Forest Farm. Children outside that age range are also welcome to join and participate in the Forum with their caregivers.
The Forum program will be geared towards adults.
Stipends are available to support attendance, and transportation support can be arranged as needed.
Registration for the Fall Food System Forum is open. Please register to ensure your spot. We hope to see you there!
When: Wednesday, November 11, 11am – 2pm
Where:Foundation of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Rd.
This gathering is free thanks to the generous support of Food Bank of the Southern Tier.
Next TCCPI Meeting
Friday,October 30, 2026
9:00 - 11:00 am
The monthly TCCPI meetings have moved online. For Zoom info, contact Peter Bardaglio, the TCCPI coordinator, for further details at pbardaglio@gmail.com.
If you have any issues you would like to bring to the TCCPI monthly meetings, please e-mail us at info@tccpi.org. General meetings are on the last Friday of every month, except for November and December. Because of the holidays, the November-December meeting is held on the second Friday of December.
The Ithaca 2030 District
Visit TCCPI's latest project, the Ithaca 2030 District, an interdisciplinary public-private collaboration working to create a groundbreaking high-performance building district in Downtown Ithaca.
Please join us for the Tompkins Fall Food System Forum hosted by Tompkins Food Future.
This event is free and welcomes anyone who shares our commitment to create a more resilient, equitable, and healthy food system. Please share with your networks.
Lunch will be provided thanks to the generous support of Food Bank of the Southern Tier.
Children ages 4-12 are invited to enjoy the Fall Forum through on-site nature-based programming offered in partnership with Wellspring Forest Farm. Children outside that age range are also welcome to join and participate in the Forum with their caregivers.
The Forum program will be geared towards adults.
Stipends are available to support attendance, and transportation support can be arranged as needed.
Registration for the Fall Food System Forum is open. Please register to ensure your spot. We hope to see you there!
When: Wednesday, November 11, 11am – 2pm
Where:Foundation of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Rd.
This gathering is free thanks to the generous support of Food Bank of the Southern Tier.
Next TCCPI Meeting
Friday,October 30, 2026
9:00 - 11:00 am
The monthly TCCPI meetings have moved online. For Zoom info, contact Peter Bardaglio, the TCCPI coordinator, for further details at pbardaglio@gmail.com.
If you have any issues you would like to bring to the TCCPI monthly meetings, please e-mail us at info@tccpi.org. General meetings are on the last Friday of every month, except for November and December. Because of the holidays, the November-December meeting is held on the second Friday of December.
The Ithaca 2030 District
Visit TCCPI's latest project, the Ithaca 2030 District, an interdisciplinary public-private collaboration working to create a groundbreaking high-performance building district in Downtown Ithaca.
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