 
There is more than one way to spark a downtown revival. For the city of Poughkeepsie, it means converting Market Street to two-way traffic flow as part of a proposed $6.9 million revamping of a key section of the city.
Market Street runs one way, north, between the eastbound artery of state Route 44-55, Church Street in Poughkeepsie, past Main Street to Mill Street, the westbound artery of Route 44-55. That short stretch of Market Street includes such notable locations as the historic Bardavon Theater, the Civic Center and Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel. It also includes buildings that house county government, various county agencies, the county courthouse and a state Department of Motor Vehicles office.
The city”™s plan would create two way traffic flow along that stretch of road. Right now, about 6,000 vehicles per day use the road.
City of Poughkeepsie officials said the proposal to convert Market Street and Civic Center Plaza would include new landscaping, lighting and benches, increased parking and a more vibrant downtown. “You want to bring people back and celebrate your downtown,” said city Administrator Michael Long May 7 when city leaders outlined their proposal for Market Street before about 20 business people and officials during a presentation at the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce’s offices.
The project could start next year with help from federal stimulus money.
“This is a good step,” said Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Charles North. “Two-way doubles the convenience. It doubles the traffic.
“Right now we”™re doing all we can to the waterfront, given it lots of attention and rightly so,” said North, referring to the revitalizations efforts along the Hudson River shoreline about a half mile west of Market Street. “The next step is to pay attention to Market Street, which is the main street of the county. Why not make it more user friendly to come to our county seat?”
And he said the project is a bargain. “The information I get is its going to cost the city $350,000,” North said. “Everything else is subsidized.”
City officials did not return calls seeking information on the projects costs and funding sources. Â
Poughkeepsie has applied for nearly $2.4 million in funding available from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Officials said the city also hopes to gain additional federal highway funds for the project through help from Poughkeepsie”™s congressional representatives. Â Â Â
Of the project”™s total $6.9 million estimated cost, city officials said $4.8 million would be used for resurfacing and streetscape work. About $2.1 million would pay for needed infrastructure upgrades, including replacing a 100-year-old water main. If federal funding is secured, the city could request bid proposals for the project this year or early next year.
As part of a separate-but-related project, city officials said they hope to utilize a small parking area in front of the parking garage across from the Mid-Hudson Civic Center to create a transit hub for bus passengers. The site could be used as a main bus stop, where buses could exit the street and to pick up and drop off passengers. Passengers now board buses from the sidewalk with buses parked on the side of Market Street where it intersects Main Street.
“I think it”™s a good plan,” said North of the proposed transit stop. “It will create a transportation hub, take buses away from where people are walking and reduce congestion on Market street.
“The bottom line, sometimes change is good, it brings a new spark,” said North. “It will make Market Street a prettier place.”
