Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press Menands trustees on speeding, railroad safety and pedestrian crossings
Summary
Multiple residents urged action on speeds and rail-safety measures; the board described speed-trailer data showing average speeds just over 20 mph, discussed limits to lowering speed limits under current state law and said it will pursue both engineering remedies (speed bumps, street geometry changes) and outreach to rail companies about horn use and ditch clearing.
Residents used the Aug. 5 public-comment period to press the Menands Board of Trustees on neighborhood traffic safety, train whistles and a long-standing ditch and debris issue along the railroad tracks.
In public comment, Bill Garvey raised several items including support for local law changes on off-road vehicles, concerns about train whistles blowing late at night, pedestrian safety at Broadway crossings where he has observed drivers failing to stop, and a request to reduce speed limits on streets such as Amsterdam Avenue, Wolf Road and Hartz Lane. The board responded that New York State recently allowed municipalities to reduce speed limits to 25 mph but noted a required municipal study can be costly.
Elizabeth Hoffman returned to the board to follow up on King Street traffic. Staff said they had placed a speed trailer and collected data showing an average speed just over 20 mph. Trustees described potential short-term measures — targeted police enforcement and a speed trailer — and longer-term engineering options including adding a permanent speed bump during a planned street renovation and altering curb geometry to improve sight lines and drainage. Staff cautioned that average-speed data can mask peak violations and encouraged residents to report repeat offenders with license plates.
Remote participant Paul Harbor told the board the ditch near the tracks remains uncleared, warned it could flood Brookside and said track crews often pass without sounding horns; the board said it will follow up with CP Rail contacts when available.
Why it matters: Residents identified immediate safety concerns for children and pedestrians as well as potential flooding risks tied to the ditch along the railroad; trustees committed to pursuing both enforcement/data-collection and engineering remedies but warned that some measures require state-level policy or expensive studies.
What was said: A trustee said the average speed measured by the trailer was "just over 20" mph and that lowering the municipal limit to 25 mph requires a survey the village has not completed; trustees discussed seeking outside funding for studies and possible legislative changes to reduce the administrative burden on small municipalities.
Next steps: Staff will continue data collection and traffic-calming planning, follow up with rail-company contacts about clearing the ditch and horn use, and bring an EV-charger proposal back at a future meeting.
