The most important determining factor in our Blessing Road Project being chosen for funding is the number of letters of support that we are able to generate and have submitted!   

Our letters of support need to demonstrate two things to improve our chances of being selected and funded:   

1.Demonstrate public benefit. 

2.Demonstrate community support for the project by including letters from various community members that the project would impact.

A sample letter of support is linked below. Please submit your letter of support no later than January 2, 2024 to Nate Owens (nowens@townofbethlehem.org) and Rob Leslie (rleslie@townofbethlehem.org).

View sample letter (Word format)

View sample letter (PDF format)

https://www.research.net/r/TG2DF8R

See the full concept design here:

Concept plan

Thank you!!

Approximately 15 of us attended tonight’s Town Board meeting, six of us spoke during the public comment period, in support of the proposed funding.  In addition to our supporting comments, one of the County Legislatures from Bethlehem along with a member of the Town Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee and a third speaker also mentioned supporting comments about our effort.

The Board approved the funding for both of our items unanimously!

The Director of Planning said that we may expect to see survey crews beginning their work along the road soon.

We thank the Supervisor, the Town Board and the Planning Dept for working with us towards this accomplishment in such a short period of time.  Of course I believe most of the credit goes to you all for your participation and support.  Several of our neighbors have contributed significant time and passion in pursuit of this success.

We look forward to continuing to work with the Town.  We’ve also talked about continuing to work together in order to develop suggestions that we can submit to the firm that will be putting together the proposed improvement designs.  In this way we hope to help achieve a proposed solution that better meets our needs by being involved at the beginning rather than suggesting changes after the proposed design are completed

Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you again to one and all!

Mario Chiarello

We received a status update today from the Town Supervisor and the Town Director of Planning.  They indicated that they are planning three specific actions towards making Blessing Rd safer for walking and other types of pedestrian and bicycle utilization!

1. The Town plans to submit a resolution to the Wednesday, November 9, 2022 Town Board Meeting requesting funding for a survey of Blessing Rd.  This would provide detailed information about  exact right-of-way and easement lines as well as existing utilities, culverts, topography, slopes and grades.  All of which will be essential for design and construction of required improvements to make Blessing Rd safer.  The Town hopes that this survey work can be completed by the end of this year.
2. The Town plans to contract with an Engineering firm to develop some design proposals for improvements to Blessing Rd to make it safer for walking, biking and other pedestrian traffic.  They hope to be able to submit a resolution to the Town Board for approval of funding by the beginning of next year, I believe after the survey is completed.  The Town hopes the design plans can be completed by late winter or early spring.  Once they are done the Town plans to schedule a meeting, hopefully here at the N. Bethlehem Fire House, to present the designs for our feedback and possible modifications.
3. Once the designs are finalized, with our input, the Town intends to seek funding for construction!

I believe this is a tremendous accomplishment in the three short months that we have been working on this effort.  It is a result of all our neighbors that have contributed and supported this effort.  It is also a testament to the Town officials that have worked with us throughout this time.  Most of all I believe it is a recognition and acknowledgement of our special needs and situation of having no shoulder along Blessing Road and that it is the only way we can access adjoining areas and services.

We hope that several of us will attend the Town Board meetings when these resolutions are being considered to speak in favor, during the public comment period, at the beginning of the meeting.

Please let me know if you have any questions.  I am also open to scheduling a meeting / discussions either in person here in the neighborhood, on Zoom or at the Town Library.  The Firehouse has indicated that they are not available through the holidays.

We are still in the process of developing our Facebook page and website.  If you are available to participate in this effort please let us know.  There is still much to do and your assistance will certainly help and will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Mario Chiarello