Okay. Good evening, everyone, once again. Thank you for joining us tonight. My name is Brian Healy. I am the village manager here, and I am joined by Frank Balby, our superintendent of public works. And we are here tonight to talk about the Old Post Road North traffic study that the village has undertaken. And so, just a brief little background on this study. The board authorized this study last year to look at the area of Old Post Road North between Hunter Place and Michaels Lane, and it was really to look at three distinct items in that short corridor. One being the stop sign at the intersection of Hunter Place and Old Post Road North, and the second being the intersection of Lowndesbury and Old Post Road North, and the third being the, intersection of Michaels Lane and Old Post Road North. And so the traffic consultant at the village hired, AKRF, went out and did some traffic counts, did some live viewing of conditions in the area, and has come back and presented this slideshow that we're going to go through this evening, detailing their what they found and their recommendations to, improve this corridor. So we're gonna go through this presentation. It's not very long. And, open it up to, any questions that people may have. Okay. So first, as I said, this was the, study area. For anyone not familiar with it, it's, from Hunter down to Michaels.
• The existing conditions on the street, it's a 25 mile an hour roadway as most are in the village. There's a sidewalk on one side of the street. The the data was collected in September after school started last year, for seven days. Found that most vehicles were traveling at or below the speed limit. There's been no traffic accidents in the past, fifteen years, in that in the area based on the data provided by the state DOT. And there's not a huge number of pedestrians that cross these roadways, but there are, you know, there are some, that do. And I would presume that, you know, a number of them are, children walking to school.
• So the deficiencies that were identified by the traffic consultant, right, was that there's no crosswalks here. The area crossing Loudounsbury has an excessively long pedestrian crossing compared to many of our other streets. Right? As it shows here, the roadway is only 22 feet wide, but the actual pedestrian crossing is 58 because of the shape of the inter intersection. The stop bar is set way back from the actual roadway so that vehicles, have to stop at the stop bar and then basically stop again as they get to the roadway because you're not able to view the intersection from the stop bar. And because of the the wide width of the, intersection, vehicles are allowed a greater, turning radius, and so they can take the curve faster than they otherwise, would or should.
• So some of the initial designs that were presented, right, included having, two new crosswalks at this intersection, one at the stop sign at Hunter And Old Post Road North, retaining the stop sign that's here. And then the second one is the crosswalk on Lionsbury, and there would be, what are commonly known as bump outs or curb extensions is probably the more technical term, placed on each end of the sidewalk to narrow that gap between the the roadbed and reduce the turning radius.
• So and these are these are just more of the formal plans that showed the actual schematics and how we would implement this design.
• And just for your information, all of these plans are available on the village website. So if you do wanna see these after tonight's meeting, they are there.
• And sight distance. Right? This was one of the things that I mentioned a while ago. There really is not much sight distance from that stop bar. You can't see coming down from, or rather what's coming up from Old Post Road North when you're turning out of Lowndesbury. So it is important to try to get that intersection in a more a more visible way for people who are approaching.
• Now turning to Michael's Lane, there's no crosswalks here as you are aware. Again, the stop bar is set back not as far back as the one on Lionsbury, but still set far back enough so that you don't have great sight distance there. And, again, this this roadway is very is very wide at its at its end, and so that allows for a wide turning radius and, you know, high rates of speed when turning.
• So for this area, again, they're proposing a bump out or a curb extension, that would connect a crosswalk from that curb extension across Old Post Road North to the existing sidewalk. There's also a curb extension posed on the other side of the street, again, to narrow that, turn radius and the roadway width.
• Yeah. And we and the traffic engineer did take into, consideration the retaining wall that is, along the intersection of, Michaels and Old Post Road North. And so, you know, what was what what is being proposed here is that the curb extension would not necessarily be a concrete, curb extension, but one that would just have a slightly raised a slightly raised lip so that people would not be able to drive over it.
• So yep. And as I was saying, it's so there'd be some river rock in that curb extension with a a traversable concrete curb if there was a need for somebody to drive over it, and then the asphalt would be removed.
• Something that wasn't mentioned on the previous slide is that one of the considerations here is to have a rectangular rapid flashing beacon. You've probably seen these beacons. We have two of them on Maple Street, one near the, middle school as well as one near Wood Wood Road. And, yeah, these are, aids for people crossing the street. You can go up to it and you press the button, and it, the crosswalk signs on either side of the road will flash for a short period of time, alerting drivers that there's somebody waiting to cross the road.
• So that was that was recommended here as an additional safety feature.
• And that is the extent of the presentation. So I will ask if our superintendent has anything that he would like to add to what I said.
Yeah. No. You you you basically heard all the all the all the major points there. So, you know, it started as a sort of a pedestrian safety project. So that's that's sort of the the the center of what the design was. And everything they proposed is is sort of standard design implements to to to make the crossings safer in in in the area. It's a little tough because the geometry of the roadway was never really, quote, unquote, planned. Right? It was just kinda like most roads, in our area. It's just kinda they were put there. So, there are some challenges, but I think they came up with a with a pretty decent design there.
Great. Thank you, Frank. So we have we do have 10 people who are watching us this evening, so thank you for joining us. If anyone does have a question, please feel free to a question or a comment, I should say. Please feel free to use the raise hand feature, and we will be more than happy to, let you speak. Okay? Okay. Liza, would you like to go ahead, please?
Hi. Hi. I don't know if our you can see us if our camera's on. It may not be. No. We can just hear you. There's no there's no camera. Okay. Great. Hey, Brian. This is Victor Ilenardo and Lisa Ilenardo. Hi. Hello. We live at 71 Old Post Road, and
• my my concern, or I'd say, is, like, I I absolutely appreciate the village looking at pedestrian safety. It's it's a big issue, and we are really agree with you. We appreciate that you did the study. My concern, just when we looked at the report, which you said, you know, there's a low volume. It's a low volume road. Most cars go 25 miles per hour or less, and there's not a lot of people that cross the street. We know they do. We see them. We say, hello to them as they cross the street. My concern is that for such a low volume Road and few people who are crossing the street, right, that we're adding light to our already ugly front other than how Diane keeps the beautiful with all her flowers. We have signs. We have telephone poles. Brian, just a flashing lights in front of our house, I think is just overkill Oh my. For what we need. Yeah.
No. They that yeah. I I appreciate that. Thank you. You know, the the rapid flashing beacon was added. It could always be taken out. You know, there's not there's not a mandate to have that there. You know, it doesn't just it doesn't flash all the time. Right? It would only be activated when somebody was waiting to to cross the roadway.
Sure. Sure. I I get that, but the physical sign is always gonna be there. Right? Mhmm. And if you look in front of our house, and I'm sure Jimmy will talk about this, we have the Lounge Barry sign. We have and it's all through town. We have the ugliest telephone poles and and wiring. Front of our house. Which I know is not your problem, but it's just every it's one more ugly thing after another in front of the house. Yeah. The sign for the
Arboretum. It's right there. There's all these signs that indicate how where the street goes. I mean, Victor took pictures, and there are no less than four posted signs along between our house and Jimmy's house, our next door neighbor. I mean, when is it gonna if you're gonna if you're gonna add another sign, I really would appreciate you taking down at least one because it's really getting to be inundated with signs up and down. I I it's decreasing the value of our property. I mean, we're we're in retirement mode, and, you know, we're looking to sell sometime soon. So We're not if we can afford it.
But I don't we're not addressing the bump outs. I think other people may have issues with that. I don't have an issue with the crosswalk itself, but it's just it's that sign, the flashing signs is what we have a significant issue with. My other question is if you're
thinking about doing the construction on Lowndesbury to bump up the, that corner to bump up the, the corner so that it's a more narrow road, How long is the construction gonna take? Because let me tell you, the construction that's been happening and it's been going on every year, but this year in particular, and I know that there's that sewer project that it's been going on, It's constantly blocking our access to our house, not just our house, all the houses in this area. And if you're gonna be doing construction on Lowndesbury, how are how long is that gonna take? And I know for a fact that if you're gonna do construction there, that's the only access, road up to Lowndesbury. So how are people gonna get in and out of, you know, in and out of the houses and the streets?
Can you let me know? Yeah. Sure. I'll and I'll let Frank speak to that in more detail. But, you know, we would obviously have to continue to allow access upright as you say. It's the only way in and out there. The the project that's going on right now is a Con Edison project. You know, the village that's not a village project. You know? So, unfortunately unfortunately, Con Edison comes to us and says, the gas main is leaking and needs to be replaced, and we have to do this. And, you know, we we don't really have much choice in the matter. We don't want we don't want there to be a explosion, so we have to let them replace the gas main. Frank, do you wanna talk to the construction schedule?
Sure. First, I just wanna touch on the the flashing beacons and and just the reason why they were even presented. As everybody knows, the the issue with there, as I said before, the roadway drama, the the curving roads and and the hills visibility is is a little bit of a of an issue there for pedestrians. So there's the flashing beacons. That's why they were suggested and presented on the on the plan. So I just want you know, they weren't just say they it wasn't just like, hey. Let's put these here for for no reason. So I just wanted to get that out there. With the construction, that's always a a, you know, a tricky a tricky thing to to to put down because it's gonna depend on when we start and how much traffic, when there's school, when there's not school. But, I mean, there it's gonna be you know, it will we'll be out there for for a month. And, you know, as with any construction project, it's it's it's gonna be it's gonna be a little annoying. But as Brian said, we we would have access. We wouldn't close Lonsbury. We actually you know, we would have to we would leave access for everybody to go up and down Loundsbury as they would be.
• Okay. James, if you'd like to unmute.
Yeah. I I have the same complaints. You know, there are a slow sign. There's a bicycle sign. And, also, my I agree with everything my neighbors are saying. It really it turns this place into why don't you put a billboard up and say, Cronin is great? It just really makes the neighborhood really ugly. And at the same time, thinking about, okay. It's hot today, but who's shoveling that? So I just throw all the snow into the street? Like, is iTeatown saying, hey.
you know, we're responsible for the sidewalk. But what happens if I don't shovel that section that path? Is the town gonna find me, give me a ticket for, like, all you missed now?
I'm adjacent to one of these your zebra stripes go straight to my house.
Okay. Well, I mean, this the crosswalks are you know, those are in the roadway, so those are maintained by you know, DPW clears those. You know? But you would still be responsible for clearing the actual sidewalk
Yeah. But, like, last year, we we built a path. But, you know, every time we built the path, the trucks came over and piled more snow onto the sidewalks.
Well, that happens everywhere, sir. That's that's what happens with the snowplows.
Yeah. But I don't wanna be responsible and say, okay. We didn't take down all the snow off the crosswalk. My other question is, we're building all this for nine people to cross the road. How efficient is that?
I mean, as you as we showed, it's not just nine people. Right? I mean, there's more people that cross. It's the whole area that we're looking at. You know, these are improvements that are for the whole area of of the village. Right? This whole area of the village. It's not just specifically the people who are crossing from Michael's Lane.
You know, I I'm I we'd have to look at the signs and see. I mean, you know, obviously, our goal is not to have sign pollution. Right? Because you put up too many signs and people then don't look at any of the signs. So, you know, we'll have to we would look at that and see if there were signs that either could be consolidated or potentially removed. You know, I haven't gotten this is the first time I've heard that there is an excess of signs on this on this section of the roadway. I haven't gotten that complaint before.
So, I mean, we're we can look at that. Yeah. I think it's because I have a a bicycle slow lane, and then I have a slow hill on the property. So it's like, wait a minute. Now there's another sign, another sign, another sign. It is sign pollution.
Hi. Thanks. So I live, I live on Michael's Lane. So I just wanted to, sorry. I'm I'm my camera's off. I don't know how to turn on. But, anyway, I live on Michaels Lane, so I just I I'm not, like or, obviously, I walk on Opus Road North, so I guess I see the signs, but they're not really, like, part of my world every day. So the excess of signs is not a thing that I'm really aware of. But I would just I'm just voicing to actually, in support of the flashing beacons, again, knowing they're not outside my house. And so I don't have that issue to contend with, so I, you know, appreciate the concern about that. But I just know every time I cross Michael's Lane, like, I get that there haven't been accidents, but I always feel like I'm kinda taking my life into my own hands because it feels, you know, 25 miles an hour coming around that curve is pretty hairy. So, I think that having something like that would be actually really helpful. And there are are a lot of kids, but almost every house on our street has kids, mine. So, you know, having that that there too, I think, would be really helpful. So I just wanted to voice my support for that and as well as the crosswalk. And I just also wanted to mention that another issue that wasn't brought up that I experienced myself, although maybe, you know, that's not something they would see if they're doing a traffic study, is actually the, driving turning left off of Michael's Lane is also pretty challenging because you really it's really difficult to see cars coming down the hill from, the area of Loudounsbury and Hunter Place.
• So what I'm I basically try to avoid making that left when I can because it feels really, like I have to go really fast. So is there any possibility again, this might have opposition to this, I don't know, from the people living there, but, like, having a, you know, like, the kind of mirror on on a pole of some kind so that, you know, you can see cars coming from the left.
Yeah. So we're actually not allowed to put up mirrors as a traffic control device. Mhmm. They're because I I I guess because it's it's it's difficult to judge distance and speed and with mirrors. So just the overall thought of traffic design is that you shouldn't put them up because sometimes they're just more dangerous than they actually are safe. So as the village, we're actually not allowed to put up mirrors.
I I I was just gonna say, hopefully, you know, with the proposed improvements, you know, that would bring the stop line up to to Loudounsbury. That would that would give the people coming out of that roadway increased sight distance. Because like I said, right now, when they stop there, they can't see down to see if somebody is coming out of Michael's. So,
you know, hopefully But they're but yeah. I'm sorry to interrupt. I guess they're I guess the people coming from the stop from the stop sign, like, not people turning off of Loudounsbury, but just people coming from the other direction. Like, there's the stop sign at Hunter Place, but that's, like, completely out of sight. So that I don't think that that's chain that's gonna change.
No. We I mean, we did look at the stop sign because there was we you know, in the initial phase of this, it was thought about, do we either remove that stop sign or do we relocate that stop sign? And, ultimately, you know, they said that the stop sign was in the best spot that it could be.
Okay. So I guess there's no I mean, I think it sounds like you understand the issue that I have, and it sounds like there's no solution. It sounds like there's no solution to that. Well and that maneuver is particularly tricky because of that existing retaining wall.
We can't really do too much with that wall. Right. So that I figured from if I'm if I'm hearing you right, that that's a big problem with that line of sight in in that particular maneuver. Right. You kinda you kinda have to move move forward
So yeah. Right. Yeah. Okay. You know, like I said, it it's not a unfortunately, not a perfect, area there.
• Okay, Alicia?
• Alicia, you can unmute.
Can you hear me? Yes. We can. Okay. So I'm Alicia Infidiotro. I am officially the longest living resident of Michaels Lane. I've lived here over fifty years. My parents were the original owners of one Michaels Lane purchased in 1951. So that retaining wall has been there since 1951. So, yeah, that ain't going anywhere. My concern here, and I agree that traffic making the left turn, no matter what time of year it is, is very difficult. The reason for those of you that are new to the neighborhood that the stop sign was initially put in on Hunter Place was due to the accident that happened at 07:45 on a school day when the kids were waiting for a school bus and somebody t boned somebody making a left turn into Michael's Lane because they were coming down Old Post Road too fast. Just wanted to get that out there. So my concern here is, yes, I know that there's a problem crossing. There's always been a problem crossing since my kids were little, since I was little. My concern is the snow and the fact that I am you're still gonna allow me leave me with two parking spots. Currently, we have four cars, so I will have to deal with that. But my concern is the snow. The DPW guys pile the snow on the corner coming down Old Post Road where you wanna put the bump out. They also pile the snow on the corner where you wanna put the stop sign on Old Post Road. My neighbor, Janet Meyer Mine. Meyer is At Number 2 Michaels. At Number 2 Michaels Lane, is 85 years old. Do you mind me saying that? Go right ahead. I hope not. She's actually sitting here with me tonight. That's
• right. So our concern is where is all this snow gonna go because she's not gonna be able to remove all of this snow that the DPW guys normally pile by the stop sign. And they do a wonderful job, so I'm not, you know, I'm not dissing the DPW guys. I'm just concerned about where all this snow is gonna go and how this is actually gonna affect my parking on a regular on a day daily basis, especially in the snow.
Yeah. Thank you. You know, when we looked at this, we specifically, know, had we we had your situation in mind there on the corner. You know, we had them design the plan so that there would still be two parking spaces in front of your house, as as there are now. And, you know, so that that that aspect of it wouldn't change. Frank, do you wanna talk to the the snow aspect?
Yeah. I mean so so that area, you know, while there's gonna be a curve to sort of delineate a more, like I said before, a more regular turning maneuver there, it is still a low area. So we could still get snow in that in that in that bump out, whatever you wanna call it. But with changes like this, you know, the the, you know, the drivers adjust. So if there are now sidewalks where once we had snow piles,
• we'll to move it. I I can't sit here right now on on on June 11, tell you exactly where this deal is gonna go, but, you know, we we we will have to adjust if if if there's no room there for sure.
Yeah. I mean, you know, this I I think most people know this winter was a little bit of an anomaly, with the two extremely large storms that we got. You know, there were some areas that DPW had to go in after the storm and cart snow out. Right? I mean, you know, if we get if we get big storms like that even without having, you know, even without having additional infrastructure there, you know, that has to be done sometimes. So but as Frank said, we adapt and we do what we have to do. We get the snow removed and, you know, things get back to normal.
And I understand that. And I actually had a conversation with a couple of the DPW guys after the snowstorm after this plan came out. And I asked, well, if they do this, where are you guys gonna put the snow? And they were like, we don't know. So, I mean, that's that's that's gonna be a problem. I mean, I don't know If the snow is piled there and somebody needs to hit I don't know exactly where the stop sign's gonna go on the corner of Michael's Lane and Opus Road. But if there's a snow mound there, nobody's gonna be able to hit that stop sign if they have to climb over a snow mound to hit the button to cross.
• Well Yeah. We've got Frank.
Yeah. If there's a new crosswalk there, we would not that's what I was trying to say. We're we're not gonna pile snow now that there's a there's a crosswalk.
I understand that there's snow. Are you gonna pile it in front of my driveway?
No. And we don't like driveways either. So so like I'm saying, we yeah. We would have to adjust. It would be different. K. I'm I you know, where the snow goes depends on how much we get and and and what the area looks like. Right? So
Right. And I get that. I'm not I'm just concerned about, you know, so and, yes, this past winter was a tough one, but the snow snow that does get plowed there currently, you know, between the salt and the snow, it gets really heavy. So it's gonna get difficult once it starts to melt and freeze if us regular folks have to try and shovel that out. So that's one of my concerns. Another thing I wanted to mention when you talk about Lonsbury, I don't remember exactly when that stop sign moved, but that stop sign used to be closer to Old Post Road. So I don't know when it got pushed back. You guys could probably look that up in in your records to see how it would it had been out further closer to Old Post Road. I don't know why it got moved inwards.
Hi. I'm Michael from Michael's Lane. I'm here with my wife, Jamie. So I think we're probably, some of the people that actually, like, instantiated the support for this, study to be done. There's about, I think, 17 kids 17 on Michael's Lane. So I think this is a very important thing to do. You know, load traffic or not load traffic, you know, you said there's 1,900 vehicles going on a daily basis and 99% of them are going 30 or under, that still means that 20 cars are going above 30 miles an hour on Michael's Lane, which all it takes is one, you know, person going 50 to hit one of my children, and, you know, I never see that child again. So, you know, this is important to be done. What what's baffling to me, though, is that we keep talking like we we're only allowed to have one stop sign on Old Post Road where I don't even see the need for this bump out. Why not just put another stop sign right next to Michael's Lane, forcing cars to stop at Michael's Lane so that children and people can cross. And then it also solves the problem of making a left. And it solves the problem that no signs would be on the people's property that don't want more signs or lights. And and solves the problem of extra construction. It's just like I don't I don't understand.
Sure. Thank you. Frank, you want you wanna talk to that? You want me to talk to that? So
yeah. So, I mean, the traffic engineer did look good. That's one of the the first things we asked them to look at. And the problem is it's too close to the to the intersection of Hunter. And it's also and and it sounds counterintuitive, but when you add stop signs, people actually go faster because they have that makeup speed because they had to stop. Now they're going faster down the hill to make up whatever time they took to stop. So that's why they suggested against the stop sign at Michael's Lane.
I mean Yeah. I come from New York City where there were or an area of New York City where there's a stop sign every five seconds. And then Yeah. New York City is
a a a completely different animal. I mean, you can't traffic in New York City and traffic in Croton are are, you know, are not gonna be the same. Hi.
My name is Jamie. I'm Michael's wife. Brian, I think we've emailed a bunch back and forth over the past two years this issue.
I have two young children and a a very high energy dog. What that that means that I have crossed this intersection probably 10 times daily, winter, summer, spring, fall. I am very aware of every type of car that comes down this hill and up this hill regardless of the speed they are going. I am the one that has to be extremely cautious because I know they can't see me. So that it doesn't just while the stop sign you're telling I I know I I is a year ago. I think you did send me this information regarding stop signs generally show that people go faster. However, I don't think that's the problem that needs to be solved. Like you said, like, the study showed, not many people are going over the speed limit. And the problem is regardless if they're going twenty, fifteen, 40, it's the same because nobody can see somebody walking. I know the I know that's the reason for the beacon lights. However, you're already getting complaints about the lights, which, honestly, I don't blame the people on Old Post Road who live there for saying that. I would not want lights in my windows regardless if it came on for ten seconds or not or or all night long. It just I just feel like you're asking for more complaints. And I also don't think that in the middle of the day, somebody remember this these cars that are coming down the hill from right from stopping at that stop sign, going down the hill, they have very few seconds to see the lights and the crosswalk.
• So I don't really see how this solution that you come up with is solving the problem, that it's very dangerous to cross here. And it's only, in my opinion, somebody who has really crossed this road multiple times a day. The only reason why there hasn't been an accident is because every person that crosses that street is extremely vigilant as well as I think that the study didn't really count for the fact that this is still a bus stop for children. So they're not necessarily crossing, but they are staying standing very close to the street, and cars are whipping by. And I say whipping by, they could be 20 miles an hour, but they're not seeing those children until they have four seconds to stop short. And now I have been at the receiving end of many cars stopping short while I am midway through the street with a stroller. And many times these are cop cars, and I only say that because they're probably going 25 miles an hour, and it still feels very scary, probably to the cop and probably to me. So, honest, I know that you said a stop sign. You talked about this, but I just don't see how there's any other solution for this being a safer intersection.
No. And thank you. I I appreciate, all the information. It's, you know, like like Frank was saying, you know, we had our professional traffic engineers look at this. Yeah. They they're recommending the the measures that they're recommending are all designed one way or another to to help improve the visibility. And because that that really is is the main issue here, right, is that people necessarily can't see. And so that's that's part of the that's part of what this work is supposed to supposed to address.
So are there ups or is this the solution, or are there options? Like, are you just telling us the solution, or are we is there room for improvement or wiggle room? Because, you know, I also cross the street all the time at Prospect on that crosswalk, and that has tons of visibility. And I think one out of every 15 cars actually stops at that crosswalk. So
But that's a straight that's a straightaway. I mean I know. So they have tons of visibility,
• and I'm just letting you know, like, man and I'm not complaining about this issue. This is confined, but many do not stop at that crosswalk while I'm waiting to cross it. So why do we think that there's gonna be any different between this crosswalk and that crosswalk?
Well, I I mean, I can't control driver behavior. We're we're doing the best that we can.
But we also right. So why don't so, I mean, I love that we put in a study, and I'm I that there's data to support what you're saying. But the the study, they don't live here. You know? And and that's
No. But the village the village does not generally go against, you know, general state law and its professional opinions.
Are you are you telling us that there's no this is the solution? Like, are we just are you just having this meeting to let us know what the solution is? Or
• you know, we can leave it the way it is. We're we're holding this meeting to get feedback from everybody, and, ultimately, the board is gonna decide as to whether or not they want to move forward with this.
from looking at the study and from what you see since you've been looking at No. I mean, I think I think we should try to we should be if I didn't support doing something, I wouldn't have recommended that the study be undertaken.
Okay. That's fair. Yeah. Okay. But You know, like we said, just to reiterate, we don't have busing for post elementary school, and and there's a lot of children here. And I just feel like it's slowly gonna be more and more kids crossing this area and at times where, you know, our site is even more diminished. So
• Okay. Chris, go ahead.
• Chris?
• We cannot hear you, Chris. I'm sorry.
• If you wanna try again.
• Okay. Is there anybody else, since we have we have two hands up, but they've spoken already. Do we have anybody else that has not spoken and would like to speak?
• Hey, Chris. We'll try Chris again. Let's see.
• Nope. Sorry, Chris. I I think there's something on your end. You're not we're not able to hear you.
• Okay.
• Alright. Lisa, go ahead.
Hi. It's Lisa again. I've been living here since May 2001. I'm on pretty much the corner of Old Coast Road and Lowesbury. I'm not opposed to stop signs around our area. I really am not because I also have had two kids who grew up here. So I understand the issue for safety for our kids especially. My maybe this is a stupid suggestion, but what about speed bumps? Is there any way maybe you could install speed bumps at precise locations that'll slow down cars so that, you know, like, Michael's wife I'm sorry. I don't I forgot your name, but she brought up so many great points. Like, is this actually gonna work? And if if it really is not going to make a dent in how cars drive fast or slow, is maybe one way we can, control it is to add speed bumps so that they will actually slow down some. Maybe put yeah. So, my husband says crossing guard, but we'll see.
But listen. That's not a bad idea. But, no, it, I mean, you know, just based off what the data is showing. Right? I mean, speeding is not the predominant issue here. It's it's really it's it it seems to be the visibility in that people are not you know, they're either because there's no crosswalk and there's no, you know, pedestrian signs or anything indicating that there would be a crossing here, people are not seeing them or are not anticipating seeing them. And so, yeah, that that seems to be what the issue is. The the data as presented does not really show speeding to be
I'm not I'm not saying putting the speed bumps for, the reason for speeding. I'm saying if a car knows that there's a speed bump coming and they're gonna slow down, the person who, you know, the person who is looking out for cars gives them that much more time to see a car coming. And and also that will give the driver who has to go through a speed bump to slow their car down to get a better sight of, you know, of, the environment of of the area. So I'm not saying that it's it's the solution, but Yep. I'm just trying to think of something that would help everybody here because I'm kind of in the same line of thought where is this actually going to make a big, huge difference? I I would love to I mean, I'm all for the safety of our kids, especially, since I do I am a mom. So if there really is something wanna see more trick or treaters. Yeah. That's the truth. We our house, since we've moved here, we've had maybe two trick or treaters the whole So entire my saying that is because we know not a lot of traffic comes our way. So, I don't know if, you know, this makes a difference in in in this conversation or not. Yeah. We want those 17 kids coming over so we could give them some chocolate.
Yeah. I'm in the camp of the stop sign. So, you know, I fear it's a sort. You know, I'm I work from home, so I get to see people crossing the street. And I'm not buying the they drive fast to make it up. A little blinking lights of those police sitting there will help them understand the slow down to get a $100 ticket.
So I mean, you're you're welcome to not buy it, but, I mean, that's what the actual data shows.
• Okay. I see no more hands up. Oh, Chris, I'm sorry. It's, it's not working. Okay. Trustee slipping?
Oh, jeez. You could've just called me Maria, but how are you? Hi. Hi. So I appreciate everybody weighing in. I I appreciate the Schwartz's you know, bringing this to everybody's attention, and I appreciate so many people coming on. I just wanna say to Chris that if you have Melissa text me whatever your question is, I will happily say it out loud. Assuming that that is Chris, my next door neighbor, I'm happy to I'm happy to to to voice whatever it is.
• So I have lived here for twenty two years. You know, my kids walked to school, stood at the bus stop, walked all across. Like, I understand what the study said, but the study but and I and I don't, you know, I don't remember exactly what the data was about how it was done, but, you know, the number of crossings, you know, is going to there are 17 kids on the street who are under the age who who are young. I think most of the kids on the street are currently getting the bus or are going to start getting the bus this year, which means that and that's, you know, it's kinda cyclical. Right? There was a period in time where there were tons of kids who were in CET or PVC who were either getting the bus or walking. And we're on the upswing of that cycle again just based on what I see with my eyes. So, you know, I want to find a solution. It sounds like there's 0% of the people who live here are in favor of the blinking light. So how do you know, I I don't No. There was one person that spoke in favor of that. Okay. So Yeah. It's a very low percentage of people who are in favor of of the blinking light, but I think we all wanna do something. So I know that there was, you know, the the can we reframe the like, it feels like we don't have the right solution, and I I don't you know, I agree that speed bumps would make a difference because people would then have to slow down. I don't think the problem is you know, I don't wanna get hit by a car that's going 15 miles an hour or 25 miles an hour or 40 miles an hour. I don't wanna get hit by a car at all. I don't want my kids to get hit by a car. I don't want my dog to. But, like, there is there is a situation there is a there is a situation here, and and people are crossing the road here. So I I sort of feel like we haven't
• we we haven't exactly hit the right solution. I don't totally understand. I know you're saying it's not typical to put two stop signs in a row, or it's not advisable to put two stop signs in a row. But, you know, based on having crossed that street more many, many, many, many times and pulled out, I think a stop sign would
• would would make a difference there. I know you're saying that's not an option, but I I'm not totally sure if you're saying that's not an option because DOT won't put two stop signs in a row or because we don't we think it will make it worse by putting two stop signs in a row. I guess that's the data I wanna understand because if the cars had to stop at Alicia's wall, I think we'd all feel I I would feel safer. Everyone in my family would feel safer. And it sounds a little bit, like that's what I'm hearing from my from my neighbors. Maybe not everybody completely. I don't know if that's something we can relook at. I just feel like we don't the solution to this problem, we haven't we haven't it's not we haven't found it yet. And I would like to keep looking if that's possible.
Yeah. I mean, listen. We don't have to make any decisions, you know, but the the village is not gonna go against the advice of the professional traffic engineers and the state of New York in not using stop signs for traffic, to slow down traffic. That's not what their intended purpose is for.
Yeah. I don't I mean, I don't maybe I misspoke, but I don't I don't I'm not asking for the stop sign to slow down traffic. As I said, like, I don't even if the cars are going 15 miles an hour, I don't wanna get I don't wanna get hit. So, I I mean, did did we ask the question, could a stop sign be put there? I mean, I don't wanna I don't wanna I don't wanna go down the road of moving the stop sign that's on Hunter
• to move it to Michael's. But, I mean, did we look at the fact that, like, maybe that's the better spot for a stop sign on this roadway?
We did. Yeah. I mean, Frank I don't know, Frank, if you wanna talk more to that, but we did look at potentially. We I mean, like I said earlier, we looked at eliminating the stop signs completely because it really I'm sure nobody would wanna hear this, but the road is really a through road. It's not supposed to have stop signs on it. You know, there was one put in, as Alicia said earlier, after the accident that occurred some years ago. You know? But they they we looked so we looked at taking the stop sign out completely. We looked at adding a stop sign at Michael's. We looked at relocating the stop sign from Hunter to Michael's. And the, you know, the idea was that, it was best to just leave it where it was.
I mean and I guess we couldn't do a you know how some you know, like, when the dummy light goes out and we pull out those temporary stop signs so that it turned that into a four way stop or a three way stop? There's no ability to give it a test run-in that way before we commit to digging a hole and cementing it into the ground just to see if we could anecdotally see if that made a change. Because, I mean, in spite of what the numbers show, people are walking
• across that street a lot.
I I don't I know that this is the data. I don't Yeah. Just to just to clarify, I mean, though those numbers that are shown there, right, were only taken in a total four hour period. Right? So nobody I I don't think so. Nobody is saying that only nine people cross the road there. Right? I mean, we know that there's people crossing at all times of the day. But I I I don't really know what putting stop signs there temporarily would do if it's not a if it's not a viable permanent solution.
• So
oh, okay. So I guess, I personally am just curious, like, what, like, what what comes like, what what's our next move here? Because it what you what's what is our I mean, I know We're gonna take we're gonna take the feedback we're gonna take the feedback back. I'll talk to Frank about it.
We'll see if there's anything that we can potentially talk about with AKRF, see if there's any changes that we may or may not wanna make, and, you know, then we'll bring we'll bring a final product to the board.
Okay. And just to clarify that, we'll come back to the board at a regular meeting so that people will once when there's another set of recommendations, people will have an opportunity to weigh in, at a board meeting. Meaning, you know, not people not on the board will have the opportunity to weigh in at a board meeting to whatever the revised recommendations are.
I mean, generally, we talk about these things at a work session. Right? I mean, we don't normally present plans at a board meeting. So
• that would be that would be the normal process.
I I just wanna make sure the people whose the quality of people's lives who are gonna be impacted by whatever decision we make have the ability to weigh in again on the whatever the recommendation is. However that looks. I'm not looking for a solution necessarily right now, but I just feel like like we're not I feel like we're about halfway through this process, not closer to the end.
Hey, Brian. So we keep we keep saying how stop signs don't slow down traffic. And sure. Let's say let's say everyone agrees with you. My question is, did did we ask the right question? And and I think that's what Maria was, you know, trying to get at. And forgive me if I'm putting words in your mouth, Maria, but, like, the question not really it's not did we slow do we wanna slow down traffic? It's can we stop traffic at Michael's Lane if for a moment so that everyone can see everyone before making their next move of crossing the street or continuing to drive or whatever. So did we ask the study the correct question? Because it maybe the right answer to slowing down traffic is, you know, this bump out and the crosswalk. But I think the correct question is, does that stop traffic or does that increase the quality of life for all the people walking and all the people driving on Michael's Lane?
Yeah. Like I said, we'll we'll bring this information back and talk to the traffic consultant.
And with that as well so it's you you keep saying that they're not gonna go against the data. But if you're going back to speak with a consultant, is this something that you could present that this is that a stop sign is still an option? And with that, understandable that this is a technical throughway and that that's that's why it wasn't designed this way. But, you know, we also like I said before, we have to bring it back to reality of how the people that we that live here actually live because there is a sidewalk across the street that kids use to go to school. So regardless if it's a three or not, you have to cross the street. So and it I you know, I'm I'm almost getting nervous the fact that there could be no answer, and I hope that there's some something completed. And if people are scared of the snow, I'm happy to volunteer myself slash my husband to shovel for you because something needs to be done. And if we need to help out our neighbors in terms of that, I'm have no problem with that. But it's a very scary intersection. And just please, when you go back to the consultants, take into account that we are living here every day. I'm crossing the street multiple times a day. I think those that number nine from seven to 9AM was all me, just to be honest. So I can't there has I'm telling like, I know this block every single fat, like, factor of it. So please just take into the consideration that even if the data is not showing that, we do like, a a stop sign could possibly be an option to stop the traffic. Again, like my husband said, not slow down the traffic because we know that that's not gonna that's not what a stop sign is for, but we do wanna stop the traffic for a second. So we appreciate you bringing this feedback to
• the consultants, and we would really appreciate you hearing us out.
Yep. Thank you very much, and thank you for everyone that spoke. Okay. Alright. Liza, you're gonna be our last speaker for tonight. Okay?
Just stay it occurred to me. Is it possible to add a sidewalk on the other side of street of Old Post Road North, or is or is it too narrow?
It's yeah. That that was something that Frank and I looked at even before we spoke to the traffic consultant. It's just with the with the slope of the land there, it it's just not possible because we'd have to we'd have to go too far into the travel lane of the roadway. So
Okay. So thank you everyone, for participating tonight. As I said, we'll we'll bring all this feedback back to the traffic consultant. Yeah. This was recorded, so this will be available on the website if you want to view this at a later date or share it with any of your neighbors who were not able to to join it live tonight. And, you know, I'll I'll be happy to to give updates to, you know, anyone that is, interested. You can always feel free to email me. And like I said, this will be at some point on a public agenda of the board, again, for discussion. Okay. Thank you all, and have a great night.