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Editorials
In the near future, the Lancaster Town Board will be approving a resolution to instate a Transit Road Access Management Ordinance whose regulations are intended to promote the efficient flow of traffic and enhance public safety by reducing conflicting traffic movement along Transit Road.
Appearing before the Lancaster Town Board at Mondat evening's meeting, I spoke and supported approval of the Transit Road Access Management Ordinance. Although late in coming and written in such language that allows for challenge and exception, it is a move in the right direction.
Had this ordinance been in place but just a few years ago some of the development that has occurred on Transit Road between the intersections of Losson Road / William Street and French Road, and along William Street, may not have occurred.
SEQR approval was delayed until the Planning Board had an opportunity to further review the document on zoning concerns and like circumstance where an issue was returned to the planning board for analysis and recommendation. "If there will be challenges to the ordinance, we want to be prepared to answer them," stated Planning Board Chair Stanley J. Keysa.
Keysa also declared that it would not be in the best interest of the town should an issue arise and the town was sued.
The Planning Board recommends approval of the ordinance with four conditions. I would like to ask if two of the conditions have been arranged for.
* Has clarification been had on definition of "qualified traffic engineer"?
Town Board Councilman Dan Amatura responded that the Greater Buffalo-Niagara Regional Transportation Committee (GBNRTC) has been working with the town on the townwide traffic study and that they would fill that role. They have the models that fit both the Cheektowaga and Lancaster traffic patterns.
* What about the condition: Deviation from minimum distance between traffic signals to be 200 feet if minimum distance between signals is 1,320 feet, or 100 feet if minimum distance between signals is 1,200 feet. Is that doable or enforceable?
Amatura responded that it was neither feasible nor enforceable as it is the Department of Transportation (DOT) that dictates where signals will go. “We have no control over that decision making process.”
Challenges to ordinance
As to ordinance challenges, Councilmember Donna Stempniak informed Benderson Retail Development attorney Peter Sorgi at a recent Planning Board meeting on how the upcoming ordinance could impact the retail development they were proposing at 4817 Transit Road, adjacent to the Kohl's Department Store.
The plan for this project shows a main entrance on Transit Road and a service road to the south, also onto Transit Road. Mr. Sorgi stated at the Planning Board meeting that he was aware of the Transit Road Access Management plan and that if the two entrances to this project became an issue, he would want to make an argument for an exception.
There are too many driveways on this stretch of Transit Road (Losson/William – French Road) with too many traffic conflicts that impede traffic movement and result in accidents. As stated earlier, this ordinance was late in coming and our master plan never accounted for the issues at hand.
Will the ordinance indeed have the teeth to enforce compliance, or is it just another great idea lacking legal efficacy to administrate?
Signalization requests and rebuffs
There has been nothing but talk about left turn conflicts and where signalization should go. Michael Anthony Lane resident Michael O'Brien would have been here tonight to address the board on other conflicts not thought of and where he feels signalization should go.
Unfortunately corrections officer O'Brien could not make the meeting because of work obligation.
Mr. O'Brien has contacted the DEC and written to Senator Dale Volker requesting assistance to have a signal light installed at the corner of Michael Anthony Lane and Transit Road.
On September 12, 2007 he contacted the Dept. of Transportation by letter requesting they conduct a traffic study for the purpose of installing a traffic signal at this corner.
After several phone calls to the Dept of Transportation, and after 2 fatalities on May 8, 2008, he received a letter dated August 5, 2008 that indicated that no light was needed for this corner.
Senator Volker has never responded to Mr. O'Brien
O’Brien listed reasons in his petition why signalization was needed at his intersection:
* Pedestrian Safety - Transit Road is a 4 lane Highway with a center turning lane. There are no legal crosswalks for approx. 1 mile from Transit & French to Transit & Losson. This leaves pedestrians on both sides of Transit to walk ˝ mile in each direction. This creates a problem for people with disabilities, the elderly or families with small children.
* At one time all southbound traffic leaving Tim Hortons had to exit onto Michael Anthony Lane Within the past 30 days the Dept. Of Transportation removed the "No Left Turn Signs" into Tim Hortons. Keep in mind that during rush hour traffic numerous vehicles going Southbound are turning into Tim Hortons. This cuts off access for people to turn off Michael Anthony to merge with traffic onto Transit Road.
* Four (4) major businesses that have access roads cutting onto Michael Anthony Lane:
Tim Hortons
Value
Andersons
Dollar General
“All of the aforementioned reasons contribute to the need for a traffic light at Michael Anthony Lane and Transit Road, stated O’Brien.
Mr. O'Brien fails to mention that the Park Lane Apartment development will have a road accessing Michael Anthony in the future.
Since the recent removal of the no left turn access into Tim Hortons from Transit Road by southbound traffic, Mr. O'Brien brings to light a more serious traffic safety issue.
South of Michael Anthony Lane, and within a few hundred feet of the intersection are three driveways – Tim Hortons, Park Lane Apartments and a Medical/business complex.
Mr. O'Brien declares that he dare not put his right turn signal on until he passes the Tim Hortons driveway for fear of having a vehicle exiting anyone of the three business driveways from either cutting him off or crashing into him, regardless if they are making left or right turns.
Vehicles seeing his turn signal on assume he is turning into their driveway and cut out in front of him – especially those attempting to make quick right turns out of those driveways.
As someone who travels Transit Road every day, I know exactly what Mr. O'Brien is saying. Much language and concern has been brought up about the need to address left turn conflicts, but little has been said about right turn conflicts on this road.
Please keep that in mind. I also agree with Mr. O'Brien that residents would be best served and kept more safe with signalization at the Transit Road / Michael Anthony Lane intersection.
Town Board response
Councilman Amatura responded that there isn’t anyone on the board that would not like to see signalization take place on Transit Road between the one-mile stretch of road between Losson/William and French Road.
“They (DOT) have told us the same thing, namely, that the traffic along this road is such that id does not warrant a traffic light,” stated Amatura. “Kohl’s offered to put in signalization at their own expense as part of their traffic mitigation, and the DOT denied them signalization. The town has told them we feel signalization is needed and they turned us down.”
The writer responded that at the time Kohl’s began operation and with their offer to pay for signalization, with the businesses and traffic that were then there, it was logical to put signalization at Kohl’s.
Many residents who travel Transit Road now believe signalization would be better had at the Michael Anthony intersection to create a break in the traffic and reduce some of the conflicts that exist in this area.
I am not here to admonish the Town Board, but to encourage them to use this ordinance as a tool to best determine where signalization should go to mitigate traffic conflicts and make this section of Transit Road safer.
Submitted resident letters petitioning signalization at Michael Anthony Lane
The following letters were also submitted to the Town Board on behalf of correctional officers Michael O’Brien and William Sweet who were unable to attend the meeting because of their work schedule.
Returning home from work, both officers ride home together in morning peak hour traffic along Transit Road. They are both familiar with the traffic conflicts involved and believe the community’s best interests would be served with signalization located at Michael Anthony Lane.
*********************
September 8, 2008
To: Lancaster Town Board
Subject: "Signal Light" (Michael Anthony lane and Transit Road) and "No Left Turn Signs to be reinstated in front of Tim Hortons"
I am writing this memo to have a signal light installed at the corner of Michael Anthony Lane and Transit Road.
I would like to file this complaint for the Town Board to have the "No Left Turn Signs" put back in front of the Tim Hortons for cars traveling Southbound on Transit Road.
As we all know there is a serious problem with traffic in this area of Transit Road (between William and French). Not only is it impossible to make a left turn off of Michael Anthony but now it is very hard to make a right turn onto Transit Road because of traffic pulling out of Tim Hortons, this makes it very difficult to see on coming traffic due to that Tim Hortons driveway clearly several feet higher than Michael Anthony.
When Tim Hortons was built, the "No Left Turn Signs" were installed for Public Safety, now within 1 year the signs were removed. By doing this, when more than 2 cars are trying to turn into Tim Hortons this has cut off motorists on Michael Anthony any chance to merge southbound.
You as, The Town Board are responsible for "Public Safety" and are legally bound when making decisions for this town. Right now there are 5 businesses that have access to Michael Anthony Lane. (Value, Andersons, Tim Hortons, The Animal Vet and General Dollar). This creates a huge traffic flow coming off and on Michael Anthony Lane/Transit Road. Please note that Michael Anthony is ˝ way between French Road and William Street and would be an ideal location for a traffic light
Michael Anthony Lane has over 60 families that pay taxes to this Town and we expect that members of the Town Board to look out for Public Safety in our Community and to protect our Family Members.
Thank you very much
Michael S. O'Brien
Michael Anthony Lane
*************************
September 8, 2008
To: The Lancaster Town Board
RE: Traffic and traffic safety issues on Transit Road
I am writing to express my view as to why I believe a traffic signal is needed at the intersection of Michael Anthony Drive and Transit Road.
I know I don't have to remind anyone of the horrific accident where two young lives were lost in a drag racing accident just feet from this spot. Less than a quarter of a mile south a young man fell asleep at the wheel crossed three lanes of Transit and slammed into a young mother's auto as she returned home from the gym thus decapitating her.
Now I understand that certain officials are saying that a traffic signal is not needed in this area. I believe a light at Michael Anthony and Transit would have forced both of these drivers to be more aware the road and probably saved these lives.
I carpool with Mike O’Brien and have first-hand knowledge of the traffic flow at this intersection. When traveling northbound on Transit and attempting to make a right hand turn on Michael Anthony you have to wait to signal your turn until you are almost ready to turn.
This is because just feet from the turn, is a new Tim Hortons with drivers constantly trying to leave the parking lot and right next to that, is the driveway of a large apartment complex with drivers trying to exit there. If you turn your signal on to early, these drivers will jot out thinking you are turning into the complex or Tim Hortons.
When trying to pull out of Michael Anthony it is impossible to see traffic coming northbound on Transit because there is almost always a line of cars waiting to leave Tim Hortons and you can not see past them. I have sat there, at times, for 10 minutes waiting for a clearing.
I have been driving for over 30 years. I can't imagine the pressure a new driver must feel in these situations. I also can't imagine what a parent living on Michael Anthony must think when watching their children drive away knowing that just up the road is a dangerous and confusing intersection that could cost them their life.
Traffic is only going to get worse on Transit Road with Wal-Mart, Aldi, and a strip plaza coming. This added traffic is going to make this area more dangerous. We need a traffic signal here to break up traffic flow and slow people down. This can only be good for residents of Lancaster, with no harm to anybody.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Sweet Sr.
Woodgate Drive
Lancaster, NY
© Copyright 2008 by Speakupwny.com
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