EDWARD SIM Village of Colonie DEPUTY MAYOR VILLAGE HALL PATTY SCHWARZ 2 THUNDER ROAD LOCKART COLONIE, NY 12205 TRUSTEE (518) 869-7562 FAX (518) 464-0389 ART WHITE THOMAS J. TOBIN TRUSTEE MAYOR JAMES RUBINO TRUSTEE villagehall@colonievillage.org www.colonievillage.org JAMIE BLOT CLERK MINUTES VILLAGE OF COLONIE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022 The Village of Colonie Traffic Committee meeting was held on Thursday, November 10th, 2022, at 2 Thunder Rd, Albany, NY 12205. Chairman Prevratil opened the meeting with the pledge of allegiance at 6:32 p.m. Roll Call: Chairman, Frank Prevratil Present Dan Hornick Present John Gillivan Absent George Lashoff Present Les Samiof Present Liasion Ed Sim Present via Phone Dan Judge Absent CPD Liaison Investigator DePaulo Present Kevin France Present Coordinator Hannah Curran Present The minutes from the regularly scheduled August 11th meeting were reviewed by the present members of the committee. Mr. Hornick made a motion to approve the minutes, and Mr. Lashoff seconded this motion. Vote: All in favor. NEW BUSINESS: Ms. Smith, from Lincoln Avenue, had reached out to Coordinator Curran in Village Hall throughout the month expressing concerns for speeding on Lincoln Avenue, specifically between the hours of 6:30 and 10:30 A.M. She had also asked if it would be possible for her to have a speed sign to keep on her lawn permanently, as she felt that it was helpful in deterring speeding. Chairman Prevratil stated that regarding the lawn sign, Mr. Judge would be able to reach out to her to discuss this possibility. As for the speeding, Investigator DePaulo agreed that speeding on Lincoln Avenue is a problem. With the commercial businesses on Washington Avenue Extension, it seems that there is an influx of traffic on Lincoln Avenue. He has noticed that overweight trucks are also following their GPS systems to get into the industrial parks, and they are using Lincoln Avenue as a cut through. Investigator DePaulo asked for Ms. Smith’s Page 1 of 4 information, and he will relay this to the Traffic Safety Unit to see if they can have increased presence in the area. Coordinator Curran offered that she would call Ms. Smith and let her know of this plan. Ms. Rogers, from Bridle Path, had come into Village Hall earlier in the month to discuss the possibility of adding speed humps on Hunting Road. She said that speeding is a problem all over Hunting Road since it is used as a main cut through. Liasion Sim stated that the Department of Transportation had looked at Hunting Road for the possibility of speed humps, and their recommendation was to just put signs due to the incline on the street. Investigator DePaulo stated in the following weeks the radar trailer would be going out near the Red Fox Drive and Barker Street intersection, and this may address some of the speeding concerns. Coordinator Curran stated that she would reach out to Ms. Rogers and let her know of the DOT recommendations, as well as the placement of the radar trailer in the area. Ms. Weinstock, from Kristole Court, had recently dropped off a letter to Chairman Prevratil about adding a crosswalk across Lincoln Avenue. She offered that she often sees children and parents having to run across the busy street to catch the bus and feels as though a crosswalk is needed to provide safer access. She recommended adding it across from Ridge Terrace, as it seems as though it would be a good dividing point on Lincoln Avenue. Ms. Weinstock included diagrams of the intersections in her letter. Liasion Sim stated that in order to add a crosswalk, certain criteria need to be met. There needs to be appropriate handicap access, and the curb may need to be reconfigured. He offered that he could meet with Kevin France and discuss the possibility of adding a crosswalk in that area. Coordinator Curran stated that she would reach out to Ms. Weinstock and let her know of the plans to investigate this issue. Mr. Hornick asked if all the buildable lots in that neighborhood have been developed, and Liasion Sim stated that he believed so. DISCUSSION: Liasion Sim addressed the committee with an update regarding the Sand Creek Road Linkage Study. He stated that the Requests for Expressions of Interest went out in mid-September, and the bids were closed by mid-October. In total, there were 4 bids, and the next 2 weeks would be spent reviewing and rating the offers by the committee, consisting of members of the CDTC. All bids were from local agencies. Liasion Sim hoped that the selected consultant would be chosen by the end of November. If so, all of the preparations would be made in December, with the study beginning in January. The study would be 12 months in total. As the study gets closer to beginning, there will be a discussion of public meeting ideas, with the traffic committee being in the middle of it. Chairman Prevratil asked how the meetings will be scheduled, and Liasion Sim stated that this hasn’t been decided yet, but there will be a couple of interest groups. They would likely all meet on different nights and varied to ensure that everyone could attend. However, this probably wouldn’t occur until the late Spring. Chairman Prevratil asked if the public meetings would be held at Village Hall. Liasion Sim said yes, or at the Recreation Center depending on anticipated attendance. He added that he would make sure the dates were announced with enough time to make sure everyone could prepare accordingly. Page 2 of 4 Liasion Sim also provided an update on the solar speed signs that had been on order. Unfortunately, he stated that the order had been cancelled by the company due to an ongoing supply issue. He is now in the process for looking for another company. Chairman Prevratil mentioned that there are numerous streetlights out between Jodiro Lane and the area of Holland Nursery. However, he isn’t sure of the exact pole numbers to put a request in with National Grid. Mr. Hornick asked if the Village Security was still working. Liasion Sim stated that they were done for the season, but we could have a member from DPW go over during the dusk and take a look. Mr. Lashoff provided an update on the lawn sign project. He asked if there were any more frames, as many of them are broken, and added that they would need more signs for the Spring. So far, he has 8 people on Sand Creek Road that are interested in signs. Liasion Sim replied that more frames have been ordered. Mr. Lashoff asked Liasion Sim if he would be able to request some money through the budget for the Traffic Committee. Liasion Sim said that he would work on it. Mr. Lashoff also mentioned that while on Sand Creek Road, he spoke with multiple people and told them about the upcoming study. They seemed interested and were looking forward to the findings. Liasion Sim stated that the goal of this study is to identify what needs to be done on Sand Creek Road and implement some transportation improvements. Mr. Lashoff asked if anyone had any information about the traffic count that was just conducted on Sand Creek Road. Liasion Sim added that it ran from the start of the Village on Sand Creek Road to the end of the Village on Sand Creek Road. He wasn’t exactly sure who was conducting it, but it was not related to the Linkage Study. He offered that it could’ve been the county. Investigator DePaulo added that they are excavating on Watervliet Shaker Road to move utilities, so it could have been related to that project, but he could check with the town. Chairman Prevratil stated that the Traffic Committee article has been submitted to be published in the Winter Villager, regarding plowing and parking safety. Liasion Sim added that it should be going out in early December. Mr. Lashoff mentioned that during the first week of September, many businesses on Central Avenue placed a slow down message on their digital signs for drivers. Liasion Sim added that thank you letters went out to all the businesses that participated in that campaign. Mr. Hornick stated that it is beneficial in the long run to have the community working with local businesses, and Chairman Prevratil agreed. Liasion Sim thanked Investigator DePaulo and the Colonie Police Department for their help with the Centennial Parade that took place in September. It was one of the biggest traffic events since the last parade, and due to their assistance, it was flawless. Investigator DePaulo added that it was an honor to have been part of such a special celebration. Mr. Hornick made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:59 P.M. Mr. Samiof seconded the motion. Vote: All in favor. Page 3 of 4 Respectfully submitted, Hannah Curran Traffic Safety Coordinator Page 4 of 4