How to resolve AdBlock issue? SARATOGA SPRINGS — The City Council voted to approve applying for a $100,000 Grant from Congressman Paul Tonko’s office to fund a Truck Origin Destination study on Van Dam Street.
Recognizing truck traffic as a top priority for the city to remedy, the city hopes to address the issue of high volume non-local trucks that disturb air quality and increase traffic congestion.
Last September, the Capital Region Transportation Council (CRTC), in coordination with former city Mayor Ron Kim’s Office conducted the truck traffic study to explore options for enhancing safety and improving traffic flow through the downtown corridor by collecting data on the number and classification of trucks traveling through the city, their routes, and speed. The potential areas of study were Broadway (U.S. Rte 9); Ballston Avenue (NY Rte 50); Church Street (NY Rte 9N); Finley/Adelphi Streets; Geyser Road; Lake Avenue (NY Rte 29); Union Avenue (NY Rte 9P); Van Dam Street; Washington Street (NY Rte 29).
This month, the city acknowledged while it had secured a high level study completed through its Metropolitan Planning Organization, it was “no substitute for a full origin destination study which can inform city planning and set us up for additional funding for years to come.”
The Van Dam and Church Neighborhood Association have advocated for this work along with potential alternate routes. In a letter requesting action be taken on a comprehensive truck rerouting in Saratoga, the Van and Church Neighborhood Association wrote: “the city has been negligent in addressing this issue for decades while the problem continues to get worse…and the city must immediately take action to implement a comprehensive rerouting of tractor trailer traffic.” The group further advocated that the city retain a qualified traffic engineering firm to conduct a comprehensive analysis of truck traffic through the city, including multiple alternatives to the current routing through the historic core.
The city’s Complete Streets Advisory Board has a dedicated budget line for matching grants and multimodal transportation projects.
