Binghamton Metropolitan Greenways Studies

BMTS Greenways Study
RMLA has participated in two regional trails studies in the Binghamton area during the past 10 years. In 1999 the Binghamton Metropolitan Transportation Study(BMTS) commissioned the Binghamton Metropolitan Greenways Study to determine the feasibility of developing riverbank trails along 25 miles of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers.


The Binghamton Metropolitan Greenways Study, completed in December 1999, has led to the implementation of numerous trail projects in the Binghamton area.

City of Binghamton Waterfront Development Project
The City of Binghamton has aggressively pursued trail development and park improvements that were described as priority projects in the Binghamton Metropolitan Greenways Study (above). These include the redesign and redevelopment of Confluence Park (at the confluence of the Susquehana and Chenango Rivers), improvements to the City's Promenade and making a connection from the Promenade in the City's Central Business District to the existing trail network in Otsiningo Park.

Aerial photograph of the Susquehanna River corridor and I-86.

The project team conducted a detailed inventory of natural, historic and cultural features in the river corridors, then assessed the opportunities and obstacles to trail development. Where trail development was not feasibility, linkages to the BMTS' on-road bikeway network were indentified. Twelve individual trails were identified and mapped. Trail design standards, cost estimates and implementation priorities were developed for the regional trail network.

Rick Manning was the Project Manager of this study for Trowbridge & Wolf Landscape Architects. Subconsultants included the National Center for Bicycling and Walking and Norma Moores,P.E. The study has led to the implementation of numerous trail projects including the Vestal Rail-Trail, Otsiningo Park Trail Extension and the City of Binghamton Waterfront Trail Development Project - see below.

Aerial view of the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers in downtown Binghamton.

Trail design standards include prototypical sign designs and typical signing at mid-block trail/road intersections.

RMLA was a subconsultant to Haas Landscape Architects on this project. We focused on planning future trail connections between the existing City Promenade and Otsiningo Park and on creating trail design standards to guide future trail development.

Illustrative trail sections for different areas along the river corridor.