By DIANE VALDEN
ANCRAM—The Town Board voted to take some preliminary steps to make improvements to the problematic hamlet intersection of County Route 7 and State Route 82.
But whether or not the steps can go forward depends on the county and/or the state, which have jurisdiction over the crossroads.
Michael Wieszchowski, PE, PTOE and director of Traffic Engineering & Planning with the Albany engineering firm of Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. (GPI), came to the Town Board’s November 14 workshop meeting to go over the findings of a recent intersection study done by his firm. A majority of Town Board members agreed to enlist the services of GPI for the study back in June. The cost was $14,000. Councilmember Amy Gold, who met with county and state officials about the intersection hazards on several occasions, told The Columbia Paper last month that all parties agreed that nothing could be done about the intersection until a road engineering study was completed. The “state has a five-year backlog” on such projects/studies and “the county can’t do anything without the state,” said Councilmember Gold, who called the situation “a Catch-22.”
Mr. Wieszchowski came armed with a Power Point presentation and gave a rundown of all aspects of the four-legged intersection with a flashing beacon, noting it is a skewed intersection located on roadway curve with significant approaching grades, sight distance concerns and turning radii issues. The Ancram firehouse is located at the intersection and the whole intersection is located within a historic district.
The tasks of the study included: data collection of traffic volumes, travel speeds, sight distance; a roadway geometric review; crash history; historic registry; operational analysis; signal and all-way stop warranting; alternative development and cost estimating and findings and recommendations.
Study findings revealed:
▪ Traffic volumes are fairly low on all approaches, well below traffic signal warrant thresholds
▪ Speeds are consistent with the 35-mph speed limit
▪ Crash history is minor, but “near misses” are evident
▪ Sight distance is severely limited for some movements
▪ Skewed approaches cause driver confusion
▪ Tight radii make right turns difficult for trucks/RVs
▪ An all-way stop traffic control is warranted by sight distance.
Mr. Wieszchowski offered six options for improving the intersection and included cost estimates for each. The improvements ranged from restriping stop lines on the roads to realigning intersection approaches from different directions and the installation of a roundabout (which appealed to nobody).
Option six, which addressed all the aspects of the intersection that need fixing except one, was for: all-way stop control (signs on all approaches); convert flashing beacon to all red; construct beacon with new equipment and placement of advanced warning sign to ensure driver awareness and proper stopping distances. The only hazard not fixed to some degree by option six was improvement of the turning radius to the north.
Mr. Wieszchowski told the board and those present that the town’s next steps are to: decide which alternative works best; send the evaluation report to the State Department of Transportation (DOT) with a request to allow that project on their roadway.
He suggested that the town coordinate with NYSDOT to obtain federal or state funding; get on the statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP); possibly apply for Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding and hire a design consultant.
During the public discussion that followed, Mr. Wieszchowski agreed that in order to accomplish the “split intersection” alternative the town or some entity would have to acquire the Tin Smith House on the northeast corner of the intersection and some portion of the Ancram Hotel’s parking area where the former Porter’s Store once stood. An audience member questioned how much of an advantage that would be? Mr. Wieszchowski said it would “improve the intersection for 80% of traffic.”
Councilmember Gold said it should not be expected that the town would absorb the cost of improvements, but rather that the town will look for funding.
Councilmember Colleen Lutz asked how one of the reconfigurations would impact trucks leaving the Ancram Mill to head up the hill.
Councilmember David Boice expressed concerns about how difficult it would be for trucks coming down and going up Route 82 to stop, especially in the winter. Mr. Boice, who was the only board member to vote against paying for the study, said the GPI study “pointed out things we already know.”
Ms. Gold said, “If we want the state and county to do anything we have to give them this study.”
Mr. Boice suggested that new stop lines moved forward be painted on the County Route 7 approaches and that solar-powered signs with flashing lights warning of a stop ahead be posted. He said these measures would “eliminate a lot of close calls” especially involving drivers, who for whatever reason, fail to observe that they have to stop on County Route 7 before moving through the intersection. Mr. Boice said the traffic study indicates that it is not an issue of speed. He said he has spoken to police officers monitoring the intersection, who have told him drivers claim they do not see the current stop signs and do not know they have to stop.
He said the “slip” in front of the Simon’s General Store building could “quickly, easily and inexpensively” be made one-way by installing a No Right Turn sign.
One man in the audience said moving the stop lines forward will not help with the issue of drivers approaching from the south on County Route 7 who don’t seem to know when they stop that they have to look sharply to the left up the Route 82 hill before advancing through the intersection.
Town Supervisor Jim MacArthur said the Town of Ancram can’t do anything by itself to improve the intersection. The town has to ask the county and/or state to do it depending on which entity is responsible for the road.
Later, during the regular town board meeting, Mr. Boice made a motion to petition the county to get stop ahead markings painted on County Route 7 to get started.
All board members agreed. He said he will report back to the board about the flashing light signs warning of a stop ahead.
Both the GPI intersection study and the intersection presentation can be found on the town website at www.ancramny.org/ancram-intersection/.
The next Ancram Town Board meeting is December 19 at 7 p.m. with a workshop beginning at 6 p.m.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com
