The Dutchess County Transportation Council has released a draft of the five-year Transportation Improvement Program of federally funded transportation projects in the county, and has asked the community to weigh in on the plans.
The highlighted, prioritized project listings range from repairs to local bridges to maintaining state and local roads, as well as supporting local bus and commuter rail services, and the council is accepting community comments until 5 p.m. June 23.
Following the community comment period, all public comments will be summarized and presented to the council prior to the next voting meeting at 1:30 p.m. June 25.
The northbound lanes of South Road/Route 9 near the Poughkeepsie Plaza on June 17, 2025. Improvements to the section of Route 9 between East Dorsey Lane in Hyde Park and Spackenkill Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie are one of the proposed projects from the Dutchess County Transportation Council.
The meeting is open to the public and will be held at the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home, 4079 Albany Post Road in Hyde Park.
The council’s draft TIP covers the period from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2030, including $164 million in federal transportation funding for state and local projects in Dutchess County.
In general, the TIP, which is updated every three years, is developed in the council’s metropolitan transportation planning process, providing insights such as project sponsors, scope, schedule and cost. The TIP focuses on federally funded programs, but also includes state-funded transportation projects.
The bridge for the Fallkill Creek at Washington Street in the City of Poughkeepsie on June 17, 2025. Improvements to this bridge are one of the proposed projects from the Dutchess County Transportation Council.
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Further, this is an opportunity for agencies and municipalities to commit to fulfilling federally funded projects.
The TIP is intended to be consistent with the county’s transportation plan, Moving Dutchess Forward, establishing a 2045 vision for the county’s transportation system to be safer, more reliable, resilient and equitable. The TIP is also consistent with New York’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, updated every three years.
Here are the highlights from the draft TIP, including the council’s five top priority proposals, four new highway projects and the five most expensive projects.
Highlights from the DCTC’s draft Transportation Improvement Program
The council received 11 proposals from Dutchess County and local municipalities, ranging from simple bridge and pavement projects to more transformative projects, such as intersection redesigns and new pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
The intersection of Main Street and S Grand Avenue in the City of Poughkeepsie on June 17, 2025. Improvements to this intersection are one of the proposed projects from the Dutchess County Transportation Council.
Based on the council’s screening and evaluation process, they have ranked five of these proposals as top priorities to be included in the TIP:
Dutchess County: Intersection improvements at North Grand and South Grand avenues on Main Street in the Town of Poughkeepsie; $3.5 million federal funding.
City of Beacon: Complete Beekman Street pedestrian and bicycle improvements from Beekman Street intersections at Red Flynn Drive to Wolcott Avenue; $3 million federal funding.
Town of East Fishkill: Intersection improvements at Main Street, state Route 82, and state Route 376 in Hopewell Junction; $1.2 million federal funding.
Town of Red Hook: Saw Kill Creek bridge replacement on Aspinwall Road; $560,000 federal funding.
Town of Rhinebeck: Landsman Kill bridge replacement on South Parsonage Street; $2.6 million federal funding.
The draft TIP has also proposed a 2026 highway project of note, including repaving Route 9 from Spankenkill Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie all the way to West Dorsey Lane in the Town of Hyde Park — a $15.5 million federally funded project.
The northbound lanes of North Road/Route 9 at West Dorsey Lane on June 17, 2025. Improvements to the section of Route 9 between West Dorsey Lane in Hyde Park and Spackenkill Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie are one of the proposed projects from the Dutchess County Transportation Council.
Here are the top five most costly proposed projects, according to the TIP Viewer map at gis.dutchessny.gov/tip/:
$20.71 million: Operating assistance for the Dutchess County public transit system; proposed for 2027.
$15.525 million: Repaving Route 9 from Spankenkill Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie to West Dorsey Lane in the Town of Hyde Park; proposed construction year is 2026.
$13.229 million: Fallkill Creek Bridge replacement on Washington Street in the City of Poughkeepsie; proposed construction year is 2026.
$9.25 million: Removal of bridge over the Metro-North Railroad on state Route 82 and implementation of new roundabout at intersection at Beekman Road, CR 9, and state Route 82 in the Hopewell Junction, Town of East Fishkill; proposed construction year is 2026.
$8.62 million: Purchase of five heavy-duty buses for the Dutchess County public transit system; proposed for 2027.
How you can comment
The southbound lanes of Route 9 in the City of Poughkeepsie on June 17, 2025. Improvements to the section of Route 9 between West Dorsey Lane in Hyde Park and Spackenkill Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie are one of the proposed projects from the Dutchess County Transportation Council.
If you would like to comment on the DCTC’s draft TIP, the comment period runs until Monday, June 23, 2025, at 5 p.m.
Use email or phone to have your comments heard about the draft TIP at dctc@dutchessny.gov or 845-486-3600.
Comments may also be submitted by mail to the Dutchess County Transportation Council, 85 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 107, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.
The northbound lanes of South Road/Route 9 near the Academy Street exit on June 17, 2025. Improvements to the section of Route 9 between East Dorsey Lane in Hyde Park and Spackenkill Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie are one of the proposed projects from the Dutchess County Transportation Council.
If you’d like to further participate in the process, the next opportunity will be at the June 25 voting meeting at 1:30 p.m. at 4079 Albany Post Road in Hyde Park. During the meeting, the council will also act on an amendment to the current fiscal federal year 2023-2027 TIP.
For more information, visit the council’s website at dutchessny.gov/dctc, contact dctc@dutchessny.gov or call at 845-486-3600.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Dutchess council seeks public comment on which roads to improve