POTSDAM – Among the vendors participating in Potsdam’s Summer Festival will be the Clarkson University Construction Engineering Management Consulting Group (C3G) who will be sharing their innovative community projects with the public. 

C3G is an in-house Clarkson University team with the capability to provide pre-professional consulting in planning, engineering, and construction. This enterprise is driven by and staffed with Clarkson undergraduate and graduate students, supervised by faculty from Clarkson’s Civil and Environmental Engineering department.  

The C3G team is renowned for its commitment to improving and enhancing the local community through various initiatives. This year, three notable projects will take center stage, demonstrating C3G's dedication to fostering sustainability, safety, and accessibility in the Potsdam area and beyond. Festival attendees will have the opportunity to engage with the project managers and their teams, gaining valuable insights into these projects and the positive impact they aim to create. 

One of the featured projects is the Algonquin to Adirondack Project, a comprehensive survey conducted by C3G in partnership with the Algonquin to Adirondacks Collaborative, along Route 12 and Route 37 in the northern reach of New York State. The survey focuses on mapping wildlife mortality and identifying crucial wildlife crossing areas in the Algonquin to Adirondack corridor. By collecting and analyzing data on roadkill incidents, this project aims to promote conservation efforts and safeguard the biodiverse wildlife and natural ecosystems within the Algonquin to Adirondack corridor. 

Secondly, the Potsdam Route 11 Complete Streets Project aims to assess the safety of active transportation along a section of US Route 11. After conducting multiple public information sessions, C3G is now compiling potential designs to make this roadway safer for everyone. The project is funded by both the Village and Town of Potsdam along with the St. Lawrence County Health Initiative's Creating Healthy Schools and Communities grant funded by the New York State Department of Health. Festival attendees are encouraged to provide their input, share their vision and concerns, and actively participate in the design solutions that will positively impact the community. 

Rebecca Kaminski, a rising junior, Civil & Environmental Engineering double major, and the Project Manager for the Potsdam Route 11 Project, expressed enthusiasm for engaging with the community at the festival.

"The changes the Potsdam Route 11 project is working toward are directly influenced by the community,” she said. “Be sure to stop by the C3G table, as we are looking forward to engaging with the community and hearing feedback from those this project would impact the most." 

Rounding out the projects is the Canton Pop-Up Demonstration Project, initiated by the Village’s Complete Streets Task Force and funded by the St. Lawrence Health Initiative, which seeks to enhance the safety and accessibility of Court Street for all users. This project focuses on improving pedestrian and biking infrastructure along Court Street, a vital connection between Main and State Street. Anuj Patil, Project’s Manager and a masters student in Applied Data Scienceat Clarkson, suggests everyone come “discover how we're revolutionizing safety and accessibility and be part of the movement towards a pedestrian-and bicyclist-friendly Court Street.” By incorporating community perspectives, this endeavor aims to create safer routes and promote a more sustainable and inclusive environment for residents of all ages and abilities.

The Potsdam Summer Festival provides an ideal platform for the community to learn about these significant projects, and actively contribute to their development. Visitors will have the opportunity to interact with C3G Project Managers, share their thoughts, and witness firsthand the positive transformations taking place in the region. 

For more information about the festival and the featured projects, please visit https://sites.google.com/clarkson.edu/clarkson-c3g/ or contact Director of Clarkson University’s Construction Engineering Management Program, Dr. Erik Backus at cem@clarkson.edu.