Message from Supervisor Herrington

A MESSAGE FROM SUPERVISOR HERRINGTON PERTAINING TO TRAFFIC ISSUES ON NY ROUTE 7 (HOOSICK ROAD) IN THE TOWN OF BRUNSWICK

Dear Friends,

I want to take this opportunity to update you on the status of various initiatives being implemented or sought by the Town of Brunswick in connection with the traffic issues existing on NY Route 7 (Hoosick Road) as a consequence of the findings and recommendations of the traffic study of the Town’s commercial corridor recently conducted at the Town’s request and completed in 2024.

Before getting to the status of the various initiatives, I want to say that we on the Town Board are mindful that the traffic situation on our commercial corridor on Hoosick Road, a State-owned highway, sometimes presents a challenge to many of you, and impacts the quality of your lives.  Be assured that we are committed to seeking that various initiatives recommended in the 2024 Traffic Study be implemented by the NYS Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) as soon as possible, in order to improve the traffic situation to the extent reasonably practicable, given legal, fiscal, and bureaucratic constraints.  We have engaged an engineering consultant, with experience in traffic issues, to guide us through the process of working with NYSDOT, and to work directly with NYSDOT on the Town’s behalf, in this regard, on an ongoing and continuing basis.  We have also maintained contact in this regard with various elected state officials, including Assemblyman Scott Bendett, and requested that they impress the urgency of our need in this regard to NYSDOT officials.

We also acknowledge, and appreciate, that many of you have expressed understanding of the reality that Hoosick Road is a State highway, and the responsibility of the NYS Department of Transportation to maintain, and improve, and that the Town of Brunswick has no authority, or responsibility, to make changes or improvements on Hoosick Road, even within the Town limits.   In that regard, I want to specifically acknowledge Mary Ellen Adams and Tim Galvin, who reside in different neighborhoods adjacent to Hoosick Road, along the corridor, who have been in contact with us recently, and have expressed interest in working with the Town on a cooperative basis to persuade NYSDOT to commence implementation of the recommendations made in the 2024 Traffic Study without further delay.  We wholeheartedly agree.

Turning now to the promised update:

Widening Hoosick Road East-Bound in Front of Taco Bell

One of the recommendations of the 2024 Traffic Study was that Hoosick Road be widened in front of the Taco Bell to add an additional East-bound through-traffic lane.  At present, there is right-turn only lane which ends at the entrance to the Brunswick Plaza (a/k/a “Price Chopper” Plaza”), with Hoosick Road then reverting to being one lane Eastbound.  Several years ago, when the Nigro Company, the current owner of the Brunswick Plaza was seeking approval to make some changes, the Town persuaded the Nigro Company to dedicate a portion of one of its parking lots, immediately adjacent to Hoosick Road, to the State of New York, so Hoosick Road could be widened there improve traffic flow.  This was done and the State accepted the land.  The present right-turn only lane was then constructed by NYSDOT.  After the 2024 Traffic Study was completed and accepted, the Town’s engineering consultant requested that the Capital Region Transportation Council and the New York State Department of Transportation consider the second through lane east-bound project for State and/or Federal funding and placed on the local and Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), utilizing available and appropriate funding sources.  We have now been advised that the project has been programmed and that funding will likely be obligated to complete the construction.  It is unclear what year the project will be funded for, most likely 2026 or 2027. So, the project is very likely to go forward, but an actual construction date is unknown at this time.

Roundabout at Lord Avenue

We have been advised that NYSDOT considers the current situation at Lord Avenue to be a “traffic flow” issue and not suitable for a roundabout, which are intended more for safety-related applications.  We do not expect the Lord Avenue Roundabout, or any other roundabout mention in the Study, to be pursued further by NYSDOT it this point.

Traffic Signal Coordination

The Town has requested that the traffic lights in the Hoosick Road corridor be further studied and better coordinated (a/k/a “Adaptive Signals”) to improve traffic flow, as recommended in the Traffic Study.  Our consultant has reiterated that request to NYSDOT officials.  To the best of our knowledge, the NYSDOT has undertaken no action in this regard.  Obviously, only NYSDOT, which owns the signals, and the highway, can do so. 

Speed Humps in Adjacent Neighborhoods

Shortly after the 2024 Traffic Study was approved and accepted, the Town installed several speed humps in the Oneida Avenue area on the north side of Hoosick Road, as “traffic calming” measures, as recommended in the Study.  The Town intends to add two (2) additional speed humps on Oneida Avenue and four (4) speed humps on Mellon Avenue, on the south side of Hoosick Road.  Construction will commence shortly.

Computer-controlled Traffic Signal for Maries Muse, LLC Project

As part of its site plan and special use permit approvals on the Marie’s Muse project, the Planning Board required, as part of the mitigation of traffic impacts caused by the project, that there be a four-way signalized intersection at McChesney Avenue Extension and Hoosick Road which would be controlled by a computer-controlled traffic signal, to be paid for by the project developer, but ultimately owned and maintained by NYSDOT. 

Further Traffic Study

We are advised that NYSDOT is now requesting that an additional study of traffic on NY Route 7, with the area under review be expanded westward into the City of Troy. 

That pretty much brings you up to date on the current status.  We see some progress being made, although it seems slow and painstaking at best.  The fact that NYSDOT appears to now be seeking another Study of the Brunswick commercial corridor, with the focus area expanded westward into the City of Troy, suggests that they may be seeking additional information before devoting time and resources.

NYSDOT continues to assert that the Town should require those wishing to commercially develop properties along the Hoosick Road commercial corridor in Brunswick to contribute to any required  infrastructure improvements on Hoosick Road.  I think we have shown a willingness to do so in appropriate cases and situations.  I point to the Town taking the initiative to obtain dedication, at no taxpayer cost, of a parcel of Brunswick Plaza land directly adjacent to Hoosick Road, which is now programmed to be used to widen the highway east-bound.  Also, we note our Planning Board’s recent completely rational decision in the Marions Muse project to require that the project developer pay for computer-controlled intersection traffic signals and other improvements in the project area, which it determined would mitigate traffic impacts on Hoosick Road associated with the project.

We ask for your continued patience and understanding as we seek, in tandem with other involved parties, to see that meaningful traffic improvements are implemented on Hoosick Road thereby enhancing the safety and quality of life of our residents and those who travel in our Town.

Philip H. Herrington

Supervisor