We did, relatively recently, make an effort to try to facilitate some correction to one of the choke points I mentioned above. The State Highway system is vast, and we are told that the funds dedicated to making such improvements are limited, so difficult choices need to be made. We have, unfortunately, had little success. We have met with Department of Transportation representatives several times in recent years, sharing our (and your) concerns about Hoosick Road and asking that improvements be made to alleviate the traffic situation. Such decisions are solely within the province of the NYS Department of Transportation. We do have to recognize the reality that Hoosick Road is a State Highway, and the Town has essentially no power to control traffic on Hoosick Road, or what traffic control related improvements are made there, and when they are made. This is simply my perspective based on what I have observed and the observations of others who have reported them to me. All that said, I am not a traffic engineer. Once you get past Taco Bell and the Sunmark Credit Union, Hoosick Road widens into two lanes again and, at that point, traffic usually seems to flow pretty well even when there is volume. So, for that stretch, there is only one “through” lane on Hoosick Road for traffic headed East, and that often causes a bottleneck. Just as you pass Ted’s Fish Fry, near the intersection of Goodman Avenue, there is a right turn only dedicated lane used for turning right to enter Price Chopper. The other problem area, in my view, is also east-bound, right in front of the Brunswick Plaza (Price Chopper) property. There are two east-bound lanes coming out of the City, and right near the Town line, the right-most lane “disappears” and that lane backs up with drivers trying to ease their way in to the single remaining lane, to the consternation of those already in that lane. First, there is often a “bottleneck” right at the Town/City line for vehicles traveling East. That discussion, however, will not be the focus of this article.įrom my perspective, there appear to be two (2) major choke points which seem to cause a lot of the trouble on Hoosick Road in our Town. There has long been a fundamental dichotomy in our Town between those who believe that we have strayed too far from our rural roots and let commercial development on the Hoosick Road corridor get out of hand, and those who appreciate the convenience of having supermarkets, department stores, car dealerships, eateries, and other businesses, nearby and the healthy effect that has on our tax base. It’s also no secret that that stretch of highway essentially describes our Town’s core commercial corridor, as designated in our Comprehensive Plan and our Zoning Law. It is no secret that traveling Hoosick Road, essentially between the intersections of Lake Avenue and NYS Route 142 (Grange Road) is, all too frequently, a challenge. The mere mention of Hoosick Road in our lovely Town is enough to generate intense discussion, controversy, political disagreements and, ultimately, frustration. If you hadn’t planned on reading my article, I’ll bet that just seeing those words has changed your mind.
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