BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON – A new chapter called Complete Streets was added to the village code at a Jan. 19 board meeting.

Trustees unanimously approved the measure that is an update to a Complete Street policy adopted in 2016.

The enactment, in a nutshell, means streets that are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and public transportation users of all ages are able to move safely along and across a street. Complete Streets typical design features accommodate and facilitate convenient access and mobility of all users and may include walking paths, sidewalks, paved shoulders suitable for bicyclists, lane striping, bicycle lanes, share the road signage, crosswalks, crossing medians, road diets, pedestrian control signalization, bulb outs, curb cuts, raised crosswalks and ramps, and traffic calming measures, the chapter reads.

“The focus is for it to be appropriate to us, appropriate to 2022 and beyond. I feel especially good that what we have is a really appropriate and current law and policy that is going to be very useful in guiding us, staff, boards and everybody in making good choices moving forward,” stated Deputy Mayor Carol Pynchon.

The adoption was preceded by the approval of a negative declaration State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).

“ I really wanted something like this to be implementable given the capacity of our municipality while staying firm and clean and remain focused on what the goals and intentions are,” said Trustee Anna Sorensen. “I feel this has done that, and this lays as a road map, as it were, on how we can incorporate Complete Streets principles in our infrastructure planning.”

A copy of the newly-adopted local law can be found on the Village of Canton website - www.cantonny.gov