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Editorials
Instead of being elated that Depew resident Marie Fleck got a lot of Lancaster Bee press for voicing traffic concerns on Central Avenue, this writer is upset that such attention has been given to but one traffic issue in Lancaster when residents throughout town have been seeking same traffic and traffic safety issue relief.
Fleck observed two “fender-benders at the intersection of Central Avenue and Columbia Drive. She is seeking support from Village and Town officials to have a light installed at the intersection to alleviate traffic congestion and allow for left turns, especially at peak traffic times.
Lancaster Town Supervisor Robert Giza agreed there are traffic issues at peak time travel. But as usual he points out that Central Avenue is a county road and as such the county would have to be petitioned to make a change.
Giza said that the county would have to do a traffic study to determine that the light is warranted at the intersection and that the light would have to be paid for by the town. He added that Legislator Kathy Konst should be contacted so that it could be done on the county level.
Giza also declared that the timing of the Central and Walden light was another option that needed addressing to keep the traffic moving more smoothly. He added that the Village and county would have to coordinate the change.
Fleck admitted that she and many Lancaster High School parents use Columbia as a shortcut. “We need to do something to address the extra traffic.
Comments
Although I commend Fleck for bringing to light the traffic issue on Central Avenue, it is disturbing to see such media coverage given to a town non-resident who openly admits to using Columbia as a shortcut road and then complains because she can’t make a left turn safely at peak hour traffic. Welcome to Lancaster!
Fleck thinks there is “extra” traffic at this intersection now? You ain’t seen nothing yet!
You have several hundred more homes that will be built in Pleasant Meadows to the east that will be dumping several hundred vehicles a day (by their traffic study) through two stub roads onto Seneca Place and Traceway that will push more traffic onto Central Avenue, from Seitz Avenue.
And, wait until next year when the NYS Department of Transportation begins working on expanding Transit Road; farther north perhaps, but bringing residual impact.
This same subdivision will be placing hundreds of vehicles onto Pleasant View Drive and Walden Avenue in the future. Walden and Central is already a nightmare and will be worse off with the newly constructed Bank of Akron at the intersection and the Benderson strip Plaza that will be developed across from the bank.
During the Pleasant Meadows Traffic Impact Study (TIS) it was determined that mitigation other than signalization was not possible at the Central / Walden intersection, so the hell with it.
The 264 Cross Creek home subdivision development is underway at Pleasant View Drive and Stony Road. SEQR was held and it was determined there were no potential significant adverse traffic impacts associated with this project.
The town, in the past and presently, keeps building out within any plans to accommodate for the traffic by means other than intersection lane additions and signalization.
Town officials throw hands in the air and declare, “They’re county roads, don’t come to us.”
There are not enough east-west or north-south major roads in Lancaster to move traffic along. In their own master plan the town advocates connecting subdivisions through stub roads that allow people to walk and bicycle to adjacent neighborhood to become acquainted with their neighbors. Nonsense! Such connection is encouraged to take traffic away from major roads that are already overburdened and distribute it through subdivision streets.
Like Fleck, there are many other hot spots in town where residents have asked the board for signalization because of traffic and traffic safety issues and have been told, “its out of our hands.”
Ms. Fleck, do what many of us have been advised to do (and unfortunately have to do), choose another route instead of taking a shortcut that leads to having to make a left turn. Or, make a right turn and drive down a distance until it’s safe to make a left turn. Hey, some of us have to do it. We shouldn’t have to, but no one cares. It’s pass the buck time!
Where have all the residents been when subdivisions hundreds of homes in size have been approved in a town where road improvement only mean signalization additions / timing changes and/or turning lane additions at intersections? Do these methods lessen traffic numbers, or improve flow enough to temper traffic issues?
But wait, less we forget, the townwide traffic study indicates there is less traffic in Lancaster than there was four years ago because of the price of gas. The recent Greater Buffalo-Niagara Regional Traffic Committee (GBNRTC) traffic study indicates William Street has 2,800 vehicles now than in 2003.
The findings of the GBNRTC traffic study will soon be made public. Should be interesting.
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