Study: roundabouts could help with the gridlock at Rotterdam intersection
Even before there were cars, the Five Corners intersection in Rotterdam looked exactly the same as it does today, but a study into alternatives might take the corners out of it altogether.
The first of two public workshops was held at the South Schenectady Fire District 6 Firehouse in Rotterdam on Tuesday, April 26, to present issues and possible solutions for transportation and land use improvements around the Five Corners intersection in Rotterdam. The Capital District Transportation Committee and the Town of Rotterdam sponsored the workshop. BFJ Planning, based out of New York City, did the study, which has 75 percent of its $45,000 cost funded federally and the remainder funded by the town. Georges Jacquemart, PE and AICP Principal for BFJ Planning, presented findings from the study, but data is still being collected.
“It is obviously not the most attractive area in the town when you look at all the uses there,” said Jacquemart. “A large amount of surface area is dedicated to circulation and parking. … We look at that as not being very productive. What we like to see in the center of a town are commercial uses, retail uses and restaurants and community uses, and that is considered the more productive land use as opposed to parking.”
The goal of the study is to make the Five Corners area healthy and vibrant while developing a balanced circulation system encouraging different forms of transportation, such as bikes and by foot. Sidewalks were shown to be very sparse with a patch in front of Dunkin’ Donuts on Broadway and on the west side of Wallace Avenue in front of residential properties.
Landscaping also was a concern in the study, but new businesses such as Tops restaurant and Dunkin’ Donuts had better landscaping designs. The previous landscaping was sporadic and not uniform.
“Generally there is not a lot of landscaping and especially not very consistent,” said Jacquemart.
The problem, said Jacquemart, is current business owners can’t be forced to re-landscape their property. Landscaping would need to be addressed in future site plan approvals for business, so it could take some time before uniformity is reached.
The average daily traffic volumes, according to information from the DOT, is over 13,000 for Curry Road, around 5,000 for Mariaville Road, 10,000 for Broadway and roughly 12,000 for State Route 7.....................>>>>.................................>>>>..........................http://www.spotlightnews.com/n.....;utm_medium=facebook
This looks like a great idea, most likely brought about by the Metroplex. Imagine making traffic flow smoother by eliminating businesses. Who else would think of something like this? I think they should more worry about the amount of traffic that backs up daily on Curry Road heading eastbound during the evening rush hour. It goes from Guilderland Ave back to Oaklawn Ave or farther. That's all the way back to District 2.
The landscaping is horrible because of the fact that it was never demanded before, either by the town or the townspeople. This has been worked on bit by bit by the recent town boards, having sidewalks added little by little. There are many places that could use much more, but I don't see this area as being the first area that needs it.
A large amount of surface area is used for circulation and parking. Gee, the people who would be circulating are the ones that would be coming to park. If they don't have a place to park (such as the miniscule parking lot that Subway has), they don't have the ability or the want to come and park and to shop.
$45,000 in tax money spent ($33,750 in federal money, which is still paid taxes) to decide that we need to eliminate businesses? Why not eliminate the eyesore closer to what is ACTUALLY the center of town, and is actually located on property owned by the town (Curry Road Shopping Plaza)? Because you can't fix this by ripping up the road.
Was previous notice put out about this meeting? If not, why not?
I'm a new member so be kind. I've scoured the site for a few weeks and have read the opinions about everything but even though I don't live in that part of town I still feel it is Pointless. Put in sidewalks and see what happens before proposing not only one but two roundabouts. And the company doing the survey was funded 75% by federal funds and the rest by Rotterdam? This company just wants a contract and isn't interested in improving the town, they just want to seal a deal. But that's just my opinion.
Just another job creater. Jobs=votes. More busy work to keep us occupied. The roundabout that is going in at Maple Ave./Glenridge Rd. to speed traffic through faster will be hampered by a newly to be installed traffic light at Maple/Alplaus Rd. I understand. If the roundabout is so effective why the light? To control traffic flow to the roundabout?
2) the double roundabout is only one option that could be considered .. the meeting on April 26 was the FIRST in a series to get public input ..a number of options are being considered
3) it makes no sense to WAIT ... this intersection has basically remained unchanged (except for paving) since the end of the American Civil War in 1866 .. the town recognized it was a problem intersection in 1959 when it conducted the first of a number of studies ---- so just waiting to solve a problem that was recognized over 50 years ago .. would be just plain stupid. To just build sidewalks and not fix the intersection would be even more stupid.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
I know a Planner that works for a different engineering firm that did a 5 Corners Study recently. This person told me that because of property constraints and building locations, it would be almost impossible to put a roudabout in there let alone two!
2) the double roundabout is only one option that could be considered .. the meeting on April 26 was the FIRST in a series to get public input ..a number of options are being considered
3) it makes no sense to WAIT ... this intersection has basically remained unchanged (except for paving) since the end of the American Civil War in 1866 .. the town recognized it was a problem intersection in 1959 when it conducted the first of a number of studies ---- so just waiting to solve a problem that was recognized over 50 years ago .. would be just plain stupid. To just build sidewalks and not fix the intersection would be even more stupid.
1) I apologize, as I may have said that it was, but in fact, my point of bringing it up was that the Metroplex is here to create jobs, and here's a project that's now going to be removing them. It's about how this county works.
2) What are the other options? Until this article came out, I heard no mention of the other meeting. Also, I would consider a "series" of meetings a minimum of 3. At this moment, it appears there will only be 2, so I would not call that a series.
3) If this intersection has been a problem for so many years, why is it that we are only looking at this issue now? Why is it that it was not taken care of at any time during the past 50 years, especially at times where the economy was better and the taxpayers would be able to handle the additional burden of the cost? If the problem was found in 1959, why take care of it now?
4) If this is such a key intersection with so many issues, how do you suggest that we have all the traffic go around this intersection for the amount of time that it will need to be closed to put in this new intersection? And what do you do about the businesses that it will close during the times where the traffic cannot get to them? I remember Curry / Hamburg being closed a few times, but there's so much more that seems to come through 5 corners.
That's why those pesky businesses have to go so they can built a monumental round-a-bout. 5 corners has always been a highly developed area as far back as I can remember. Eiferts drug store, Seigels Hardware, Larry's market, Tops Diner, Cigar/book store, P & C Market, Insurance Co, and and a Barbershop. The names of the businesses have changed but the locations stayed the same. Eliminating any business from that area would be a mistake IMHO.
Unless the roundabout is even smaller than the one on Hamburg/curry, it would appear that it would take substantial property away from the already existing businesses.
Also, because of it being a busy intersection, how would the emergency vehicles eg police, ambulance, fire, get to their destination in a timely manner? There would be nowhere for cars/tractor trailers/trucks to pull over, while in the circle, for these emergency vehicles to pass through.
And unlike hamburg/curry, there are busy businesses on all of it's corners with steady in and out traffic. This could also pose an inconvenience for the business and customers alike.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I'm in favor of finding a solution. I'm sick of it taking 30 minutes to drive 3 miles across the town. Something needs to be done. The traffic pattern needs to be addressed. A round a bout and multiple lane roads in both directions where there is heavy traffic congestion would be great...I don't care if it is state, federal, county, or local tax money that pays to fix an infrastructure problem. That is what taxes are supposed to be used for. Not to give to a millionaires to fund a business venture like Recovery Room.
Round-abouts are nothing but government "do" work projects. The round-about at Curry and Hamburg has done NOTHING to alleviate the evening rush hour backups coming off of the Thruway/I-890.. I know this because I travel it every day. Before the round-about, traffic backs up to the overpass. With the round-about, traffic backs up to the overpass.
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
Curry Rd is the issue. Traffic going west at 5pm is bumper to bumper to the train overpass by the old kmart plaza.
The problem? ALL of Rotterdam is nothing more than a 2 lane town!! And yet they keep building condos/mfh when the roads can't handle the existing traffic. Poor planning that has come back to bite them.
And before they do anything, let's hope they update the water/sewer lines that are in that area.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
since the end of the American Civil War in 1866 ..
not bashing, just a correction.... April 18, 1865, the Civil War ended after Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865....however, having lived in Georgia for ten years, I can tell you that many down south are not aware that it ended!!!!
JUST BECAUSE SISSY SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO...BUT HE THINKS IT DOES!!!!! JUST BECAUSE MC1 SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO!!!!!
not bashing, just a correction.... April 18, 1865, the Civil War ended after Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865....however, having lived in Georgia for ten years, I can tell you that many down south are not aware that it ended!!!!
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