Pedestrian Safety Action Plan Intersection Project

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Consultation has concluded

This project is now complete.

The City continues to make investments to improve the walkability of its neighborhoods, including upgrades and adjustments to sidewalks, roads, and intersections to increase pedestrian safety.

With funding from the New York State Department of Transportation's Pedestrian Safety Action Plan Program, seven key intersections across Kingston will be upgraded to ensure that people crossing some of our busiest roads can do so safely.

The targeted intersections include Joy's Lane at Municipal Stadium Road; Broadway at McEntee, Yosman Towers, Delaware Avenue and Andrew Street; North Front at Crown Street; and Albany Avenue at Maiden Lane.

These intersections in particular have high pedestrian traffic and have been found to be at greater than average risk for crashes. Moreover, several have extra-long crosswalks, which add even further to safety concerns for walkers.

Potential improvements include the extension of curb lines to shorten long crossing distances, the addition of sidewalk ramps and retroreflective signs, and upgrades to existing crosswalk markings and pedestrian signals to include countdown timers.

Engineering Consultants from Creighton Manning LLP created proposed designs that are located under "Documents" to the right.

Thank you to those we were able to provide feedback during our comment period, which ran from June 12 through June 26, 2020. Creighton Manning made adjustments and submitted the Final Design Report to DOT.

Following a bit of back-and-forth over several months, we received the final go-ahead from DOT and issued a Request for Bids to qualified contractors in March. A. Colarusso & Son was the selected consultant, who started construction in July. All of the safety enhancements are expected to be completed by September 2021.

●●●

This project is now complete.

The City continues to make investments to improve the walkability of its neighborhoods, including upgrades and adjustments to sidewalks, roads, and intersections to increase pedestrian safety.

With funding from the New York State Department of Transportation's Pedestrian Safety Action Plan Program, seven key intersections across Kingston will be upgraded to ensure that people crossing some of our busiest roads can do so safely.

The targeted intersections include Joy's Lane at Municipal Stadium Road; Broadway at McEntee, Yosman Towers, Delaware Avenue and Andrew Street; North Front at Crown Street; and Albany Avenue at Maiden Lane.

These intersections in particular have high pedestrian traffic and have been found to be at greater than average risk for crashes. Moreover, several have extra-long crosswalks, which add even further to safety concerns for walkers.

Potential improvements include the extension of curb lines to shorten long crossing distances, the addition of sidewalk ramps and retroreflective signs, and upgrades to existing crosswalk markings and pedestrian signals to include countdown timers.

Engineering Consultants from Creighton Manning LLP created proposed designs that are located under "Documents" to the right.

Thank you to those we were able to provide feedback during our comment period, which ran from June 12 through June 26, 2020. Creighton Manning made adjustments and submitted the Final Design Report to DOT.

Following a bit of back-and-forth over several months, we received the final go-ahead from DOT and issued a Request for Bids to qualified contractors in March. A. Colarusso & Son was the selected consultant, who started construction in July. All of the safety enhancements are expected to be completed by September 2021.

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Comments

Please tell us what you think about the proposed Pedestrian Safety Action Plan intersection designs. They're found over to the right under "Documents."  Thank you!

Consultation has concluded
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There are much better alternatives for better crossings and sidewalks, these are great examples https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OfBpQgLXUc basically, we should have continuous sidewalks which would mean a bump for the cars, that way drivers are forced to pay attention and actually reduced their speed and yield to pedestrians. It's a shame that this approach was not taken for the broadway or linear park projects. I think it's time that we start designing our infrastructure around pedestrian and cyclist and not just around cars.

Would recommend videos like this on how to better design for safety (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42oQN7fy_eM) or any other in that channel

Gus over 1 year ago

Fabulous! I see the work on Maiden Lane and it is wonderful! Thankyou! I'll have to visit the other places you are making these improvements.

gberke over 2 years ago

I think this is a great plan. However, there are many areas in Kingston that need to be look as well. Abeel St. from Wilbur Ave. to Broadway is a beautiful walk/bike path but it could be very dangerous with multiple curves and blind spots. We need more side walks that provide protection as well as help people to become more active. Thank you.

Icventure over 2 years ago

I live on Maiden Lane: squaring up that intersection is just what is needed: thank you!

gberke almost 3 years ago

Thanks to those who have commented so far. This is Ruth Ann, the staff project manager. Regarding the PAC, I just corrected the listing so that staff are separated from the volunteer group as they're not technically PAC members. Every project requires engineering and project management staff to ensure plans meet certain standards and are in line with other activities and work going on across the city. Staff also manage details related to the grants that support the work. This particular group is a little smaller than usual, but on average, PACs include about six to ten community stakeholders who are not staff members.

Regarding a virtual meeting, this PSAP project is relatively small -- not a full, city-wide pedestrian safety plan. If the city does embark on a full plan in the future, we'll definitely call a public meeting.

Regarding the sidewalks in front of Bailey Pottery, this area is not a part of the current PSAP project, but is noted for our list of future work.

The suggestion about providing plans that are easier to read is noted. If our budget allows, we will post street-view drawings. If it's not possible for this project, we will try to do so for new projects.

Re Albany Ave. and Maiden Lane: other community members have expressed similar concern about drivers ignoring the signal and we're aware that this problem must be addressed.

The current DOT roundabout project and this PSAP project do not overlap. The roundabout project ends 30 feet to the east of the Albany Avenue and Maiden Lane PSAP project.

Ruth Ann over 3 years ago

I think this is a good project. I see pedestrians struggling to get across all of these intersections. Something definitely needs to done about the North Front St and Crown St crossing! People are stepping out between parked cars in front of the Front Street Tavern. I personally have almost hit a number of people that think just because there is a crosswalk they can just walk out in front of oncoming traffic.

CSF61 over 3 years ago

These plans are very hard to read, especially the Deitz Stadium plan, for which there doesn't seem to be a photo mockup. I think you'd get better input if you put these plans up as an online meeting. I'm all in favor of pedestrian safety, but I can't read these plans well enough to make any informed comments.

Smwenk over 3 years ago

I do not see any plans for the intersection of Albany Ave. and Maiden La. In my experience, this particular intersection needs improvement, in particular the pedestrian crossing. There is a traffic light and a pedestrian crossing signal activated by a push button on either side of Albany Ave. It has been my experience that when a pedestrian presses the button, the traffic signal turns red and the pedestrian signal indicates it is safe to cross. I have observed on many occasions that traffic does not stop at the red light. Twice in one day I was nearly hit by cars ignoring the red traffic signal. This was not a case of trying to "beat" the changing light, but rather completely ignoring a light that was already red for some time. I doubt that this situation can be fixed merely with enforcement (although that would probably help).

TomHackett over 3 years ago

Traffic Safety Forum in 2019 https://youtu.be/iSh0ksgn4_s

it's already been discussed but I haven't seen any changes ..

Clark Richters over 3 years ago

it would be much easier if they had a public hearing or comment on Zoom pedestrian safety plan? at https://engagekingston.com/ Sign In or Register?

Clark Richters over 3 years ago

Regarding the Project Advisory Commitee: best practice to not have city employees on advisory committees, especially employees who are also involved in the project as part of their job. City employees have a voice already in their role as a city employee. The purpose of these committees is to encourage input from the community. Loading this committee with city employees dilutes the input from the community and creates a false impression of true community involvement. If the committee requires input from experts, these employees can provide that in their role as city employees. Having them on the committee is doubling their power,

Allen over 3 years ago

There is currently a NYSDOT project which is building a Roundabout. The project includes the intersection of Albany Avenue and Maiden Lane and work is currently being done there. Kingston should not be including this intersection a second time and paying for work to be done here twice. If there are differences, that should have been covered when the city of Kingston was discussing the NYSDOT project with them. It could be covered under a change order now, which will cost money, but not as much as redoing the intersection in a year. I believe there are prohibitions by the state on digging up new projects for a period of time.

Allen over 3 years ago

Foxhall ave. Needs sidewalks installed at Baileys pottery, cars are parked where the sidewalk should be and people have to walk in roadway, please look into this problem, thanks Lou

Lou almost 4 years ago