Traffic Circle on Church Street?

Author: Andrew J. Bernstein
Date: 3/11/2008
Source: The Saratogian

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The city could get its first ever roundabout if one of two proposals to alleviate congestion along Church Street comes to fruition.

Representatives from Creighton Manning Engineering (CME), a contractor for the city, met with members of the public to present two proposals to improve the Route 9 corridor between West Avenue and Van Rensselaer Street.

According to Project Engineer Steve Godlewski, of CME, who presented the proposals Monday, the key to any improvements is easing congestion at the intersection of Church and Myrtle streets. To this end, CME proposed adding a two-direction turn lane to Church Street, between Van Rensselaer and Myrtle streets, and either adding a traffic signal to the intersection or constructing a traffic circle.

Godlewski said a traffic circle could bring several benefits, including easing traffic congestion by improving flow, reducing emissions by not necessitating cars to stop, reducing the number of points where travel lanes cross each other and simplifying the flow of pedestrian traffic. The presentation included video demonstrations of traffic and pedestrian flow through both a traffic-signal intersection and a roundabout. The demonstration was based on traffic studies conducted by CME in the fall of 2007.

Regardless of which proposal is eventually selected, other improvements to Church Street will include storm drains to prevent water build-up in the roadway, improvements to the road surface and sidewalk connections along Myrtle Street. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2009 and continue through the summer.

Neighbors and city officials expressed misgivings about the roundabout, which would require taking space from each of the intersection’s four corners.

Colleen Boardman worried that the circle would be confusing to visitors, while Kevin Ronayne, vice-president for Operations and Facilities at Saratoga Hospital, which sits on the intersection, said the hospital would prefer the signal intersection, because a roundabout could present difficulties to delivery trucks, and would cut into the hospital’s parking lot.

Also present at the meeting were Commissioner of Public Works Skip Scirocco, Commissioner of Finance Kenneth Ivins, planning board Chairman Clifford Van Wagner and City Engineer Paul Male.

Project engineers are currently in the process of compiling a draft design report, which will be available for public comment. Comments can be sent to the City Engineer’s Office, City Hall, 587-3550. The comment form will also be available on the city’s Web site.

Look for proposed plans in The Saratogian this week.