Roundabouts safer because drivers are avoiding them
It was with great amusement that I read the June 27 article. The reason the accident rate is down is because the main traffic avoids these roundabouts. Park your vehicle near Exit 11 of the Northway between the hours of 5 p.m. and 6 pm. The volume of traffic is amazing, drivers are exiting Exit 11 rather than Exit 12 to avoid the roundabouts. We reside at Northway 11 Communities and noticed the heavy increase in traffic after the roundabouts were opened. With a good share of the traffic off Exit 12, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why the accident rate would be lower. I would estimate that 90 percent of the people I questioned about the roundabouts, say they hate them. Naturally the state Department of Transportation people, who created them, will never admit they wasted $16-plus million in constructing these monstrosities. Why didn’t they take a vote on it before wasting the taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars. Talk to some of the drivers who get off the Northway at Exit 11 to find out what their destination is and ask them how they like roundabouts. I’m happy to hear the city of Saratoga Springs has decided not to have them on the main street. THOMAS TOTTEN Ballston Lake
Since they want to put a Roundabout on Hamburg St. and Curry, we thought it would be fitting to post this here. Quoted Text Roundabouts safer because drivers are avoiding them
It was with great amusement that I read the June 27 article. The reason the accident rate is down is because the main traffic avoids these roundabouts. Park your vehicle near Exit 11 of the Northway between the hours of 5 p.m. and 6 pm. The volume of traffic is amazing, drivers are exiting Exit 11 rather than Exit 12 to avoid the roundabouts. We reside at Northway 11 Communities and noticed the heavy increase in traffic after the roundabouts were opened. With a good share of the traffic off Exit 12, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why the accident rate would be lower. I would estimate that 90 percent of the people I questioned about the roundabouts, say they hate them. Naturally the state Department of Transportation people, who created them, will never admit they wasted $16-plus million in constructing these monstrosities. Why didn’t they take a vote on it before wasting the taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars. Talk to some of the drivers who get off the Northway at Exit 11 to find out what their destination is and ask them how they like roundabouts. I’m happy to hear the city of Saratoga Springs has decided not to have them on the main street. THOMAS TOTTEN Ballston Lake
Well isn't this article interesting? At least we get to hear another side of the story...and from a residents point of view as opposed to a political leader or the DOT.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
There are more than enough houses with income willing to shop hamburg street if it was made for the shopping.....oh, no....those folks aren't worth the $$ in their pockets and tax$$.......if the cars come thru the circle,,fine....but dont insult me saying that will be THE BIG BOOST.....we live here and we are just waiting and willing...and yet the DEMS and the REPS are just insulting and oh, let me use walmarts words "underserving".....but, thank you for your interest and time,exit left,,,next please.......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Anything exciting said at the meeting ?? We need to post minutes if you really want people to know whats going on and help...Work hours interfere on many occasions, but I would like to know whats going on and possibly what I could do to help..
Sorry, I couldn't make it-sick......but, I drive the street everyday and I see the same things you do.....NOTHING......just the local guys doing what they need to do, without any big, solid foundation (sewers, lighting, sidewalks) for their future and our future......kudos to the local business guys---keep it up---what are we going to do now?????---wait-wait-wait-wait-wait--homeless-wait--crime-wait-grafitti-wait-larceny-wait-wait-gangs-wait-vandals---wait--wait--wait---------------
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Well, like I said, when I watched the town board meeting on channel 16 the other day, Godlewski asked (like he 'always' does) what was happening with Hamburg Street, Mr. Tomasone just said that Mr. Santabarbara, the new IDA chair had some irons in the fire but Mr. Tomasone was at liberty to say. So again we wait!
But I don't know how much longer Rotterdam can wait. The city is going to be moving their 'villians' out and where do you think they are going to go? Some are already here. There are many 'undesirables' I see walking Hamburg St, Altamont Ave and Curry Rd.. But I wonder...are they the 'undesirable' or the 'underserved'? I think that we, as Rotterdam residents are beginning to be the underserved.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
By TOM KEYSER, Staff writer First published: Sunday, July 8, 2007
What makes a good neighborhood?
A row of houses on tree-lined streets where parents push strollers? A cluster of apartments where your next-door neighbor might leave to be replaced by another a month from now? An arc of homes around a cul-de-sac where kids play basketball in the street?
Is it geography?
Is it architecture?
Is it history?
It may be one of the above, or it may be all of the above. But for sure, a good neighborhood is defined by people.
Talk to the urban and planning experts, and they'll tell you that a good neighborhood must be walkable; walking promotes interaction with neighbors. A good neighborhood needs an activity center or focal point, be it a post office, library, movie theater, coffee shop or bar.
The residents must have shared vision and values. They must be willing to work together to solve problems and meet crises. It's not a bad idea if they like to party together, too.
But the experts will tell you that most modern housing developments lack not only a sense of community but also character. The houses look alike. The face they present to the street, to the public, is a large, glaring garage.
The houses serve as retreats, cocoons, into which residents disappear until the next day, when they re-emerge to face the world again. In the process, they seldom, if ever, interact with their neighbors.
"We've developed hollow places where people don't connect with one another, and they don't connect with the place," says Gene Bunnell, professor of geography and planning at the University at Albany. "They bought the house because they liked the conveniences, the appliances, they liked the kitchen, it had air conditioning. It was the house but not really the place. And when their situation changes, when they no longer have children to fill up the house, for example, they simply move away."
Today's families often don't have time to be neighborly. Both spouses work. They're commuting longer distances. They have to drive to buy groceries, to rent a movie, to get a haircut. When they finally get home they want to unwind, have a drink, watch TV, check the Internet.
This has eroded the fabric of the neighborhood, and that, says James Howard Kuntsler, a Saratoga Springs resident and authority on suburban sprawl and the urban predicament, "is one of the great tragedies of what we've done with the human-habitat part of the environment over the last 60 years."
But there are places in the Capital Region where the fabric is still woven tight, where neighbors keep a "pooch poop station" supplied with plastic grocery bags for the many dog walkers, or congregate at the post office where they chatter while picking up mail, or dress in costume for the neighborhood Halloween party that has endured for a half century.
People in these neighborhoods feel a sense of belonging, a sense of community. It might revolve around a shared history, a neighborhood pool, the challenge of gentrification, community clean-ups, neighborhood watches, block parties or a neighborhood eyesore. What makes a good neighborhood?
"It's a place of commonality, where residents have a common understanding or a common sense of appreciation for each other," says Terry McDonnell, a state trooper who's active in his Troy neighborhood. "People take ownership in the neighborhood. I used to tell my son that the city doesn't own anything; we own the city. And it's really up to you to promote that. The city unto itself really isn't anything; it's the people who are everything."
Tom Keyser can be reached at 454-5448 or by e-mail at tkeyser@timesunion.com.
Roundabouts...i use them everyday in the Malta area and find them to be attractive ( better than the Weed ridden monstrosity at the intersection of Hamburg and Curry ) and find them very easy to pass through. Dont forget, these studies are done all over the united states and they are factual....These things WORK. When you get to the intersection here no one knows what to do its a mess.
So put in the roundabout.....that will not solve the lack of sewers, sidewalks and lighting.......I could walk Hamburg street if it was built properly.....yes, I do have a job and I am able to shop,,,guess I have to keep going to Mohawk Commons and those 'other places'......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
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