Guilderland roundabout project expected to begin next year

Q: I am inquiring about the roundabout that was planned for Carman Road and West Lydius in Guilderland. The state Department of Transportation site shows the plans and start date of the project; they had signs up for the start of the project and had crews doing soil samples in the spring of 2021. Then the project just stopped. I’m interested in knowing if the project will still be happening or what the plans are. —Ken Bradt

A: The project, which is intended to enhance safety and mobility along State 146, is proceeding as planned, according to Bryan Viggiani, public information officer for the state Department of Transportation. The construction of the roundabout at Carman Road and Lydius Street is expected to begin next year, he said.

Bus lanes: The Capital District Transportation Authority and Capital District Transportation Committee have initiated a Bus Lane Feasibility study to help improve transit reliability in the region. The study will investigate the feasibility, needed infrastructure improvements and potential operating policies for bus lanes within CDTA’S service area.

“This is the first step in creating a more robust CDTA in the Capital Region,” said CDTA CEO Carm Basile. “A bus lane feasibility study will allow us to get the important information we need to continue to grow our system and provide even more mobility choices to customers and the community.”

There will be a variety of ways for the public to engage with the study. Fill out the online survey at www.buslanestudy.com/survey to give feedback regarding challenges, needs and opportunities for the Capital Region’s transit network and help identify areas of focus. The survey will open on Wednesday and close at midnight on Nov. 21.

There will also be public workshops; the first is on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom, followed by a second session at 7 p.m. Both will have the same content, introducing the project and giving participants an opportunity to share their ideas.

Visit www.buslanestudy.com/ events to sign up and for more details on in-person pop-up events.

Pedestrian Safety Month: October is Pedestrian Safety Month. Pedestrians accounted for 30 percent of motor vehicle fatalities in 2019, according to New York state data from the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research. Over 15,000 pedestrians were injured. Most of those deaths and injuries were caused by driver inattention and distraction or failure to yield right of way. New York City accounted for 41

percent of pedestrian deaths; upstate accounted for 38 percent.

Some safety tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: If sidewalks aren’t available, pedestrians should walk facing traffic and as far away from cars as possible. Never assume drivers see you, and make eye contact as they approach. Drivers should yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from crosswalks to give other vehicles a chance to see the pedestrians.

Have a question about transportation in the Capital Region? Email gettingthere@timesunion.com and include your name, town and phone number or tweet @abigail_rubel.