COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The Capital Region Transportation Council and the town of Colonie held a public meeting Wednesday evening at the Midway Fire Department to officially launch the Central Avenue, West Corridor Study.
“It’s a major entry point into our town,” said Colonie Town Supervisor, Peter Crummey. He explains that Central Ave. between New Karner Road and the Niskayuna border is a five-lane roadway and is a historically important connection between Schenectady and Albany, providing local access to commercial areas and residential neighborhoods.
“It’s gone unnoticed a little bit. But we’ve put this thing out. I’ve put it out on all of my town information. It’ll only work if everybody participates and [we] get to gather all the information,” said Crummey.
The study will focus on examining future land use and transportation concepts for a three-mile stretch of Central Ave. in Colonie. Crummey praises the move but says the state needs to do more to maintain their part of the corridor. “There’s many structures there that could be redeveloped, which is my large mission here. Now we need to look back and make it much easier for folks to redevelop existing sites, so they don’t become zombie properties.”
Central Ave. in Colonie is a heavily traveled corridor with over 23,000 vehicles on the road a day. Safety has been a real concern over the years especially with pedestrian and bicycle fatalities in that stretch. Crummey explains, “My concern is to develop new ways in which to look at modalities of mobility and to see if there are other things we can do out in that community, not only to provide access for vehicles, but also bicycles and other opportunities, and also create pedestrian access, much safer than it is now.” He’s also concerned for those with disabilities, “We’ve appointed somebody who is a member of the Association of the Blind.”
Sticky notes placed on boards located throughout Midway Fire Department, where the presentation was held, depict community ideas. Some notes wanting to see more crosswalks saying, “Many people cross mid-block.”
Others say speeding cars are a problem and suggested lowering speed limits. While others said, “Less strip malls.”
If you were unable to attend the meeting you can always click [here] for more.
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