ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC COMMENTS
At the end of the August 8th, 2024 presentation, the public was invited to share public comment for the official record. Those comments were due August 22nd. We spread the word and people engaged.
94 Comments were received in total
68 (72%) came from residents of Stuyvesant or Stuyvesant Falls.
20 (20%) were from people in nearby communities in Columbia County including Kinderhook, Valatie, Ghent, Hudson, or Chatham.
6 were from cultural institutions or provided no address.
Common Topics
The majority of authors spoke about their connections to the Bridge and the Falls, including walking and cycling on the nearby Albany-Hudson Electric Trail, birdwatching, swimming in the creek, and an interest in the history and unique scenery of the area.
Here were the most common themes:
74 (79%) noted the VALUE of the old bridge to THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
71 (76%) wanted MORE INFORMATION ON ALTERNATIVES to bridge replacement, including options for REHABILITATION.
67 (71%) voiced DISAPPOINTMENT in the level of PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT on the project.
64 (67%) had concerns about INCREASED TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC SPEEDS, AND SAFETY.
62 (66%) expressed concerns about IMPACTS TO LOCAL PARKS, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE in the Falls.
59 (63%) explicitly expressed a PREFERENCE FOR A ONE LANE BRIDGE over a two lane.
58 (62%) called for a PAUSE in the project to allow time to DISCUSS OTHER OPTIONS.