Study may suggest removal of some traffic lights
KINGSTON, N.Y. » Mayor Steve Noble says he is “looking forward” to results of a traffic light study that could recommend the removal of them at some city intersections.
Officials say the study is being conducted with $50,000 in federal funding from the Federal Highway Administration through the Ulster County Transportation Council.
The council, along with the Ulster County Planning Department, are heading up the study.
Preliminary reports indicate that at least 14 traffic lights at that many intersections will be examined.
“Our top priority is maintaining and improving the safety of
all motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists,” Noble said in an email. “It is likely that the City has a number of intersections that may no longer need a traffic signal for optimum traffic flow.”
Noble said that some of the city’s traffic signals “are quite old and if the data justifies such an action, it would make sense to remove these signals rather than continuing the burden of their replacement and maintenance.”
Noble said the evaluation will give the city important data.
“A formal evaluation will give us the information we need to make improvements in a strategic and consistent manner, which will ultimately enhance traffic safety and flow,” Noble said.
Noble said initially, the study will focus on the area of the Stockade District in Uptown.
“These findings will help us update and implement elements of the Uptown Stockade Transportation Plan, which is one of the priority projects we hope will be funded through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative,” Noble said.
The city has submitted a Strategic Investment Plan to the state Department of State for projects considered for funding as part of a $10 million award under the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
Intersections preliminarily identified for study under the examination, known as the Traffic Signal Warrant Evaluation, are:
• Linderman and Washington avenues;
• Pearl Street and Washington Avenue.
• Main Street and Washington Avenue;
• Schwenk Drive Kingston Plaza;
• North Front and Wall streets; • Pearl and Fair streets; • John and Wall streets; • Pearl and Wall streets; • Henry Street and Clinton Avenue;
• Franklin Street and Clinton Avenue;
• St. James Street and Clinton Avenue;
• Washington and Greenkill avenues;
• Wall and Henry streets; and
• Washington Avenue at and The Boulevard.
In a Request for Proposals to conduct the evaluation, the study is summarized in this way:
“The primary objectives of the City of Kingston Stockade Area Signal Warrant Evaluation (“the Evaluation”) are to evaluate the continued need for selected traffic signals in the study area utilize appropriate safety and operational data and, if no longer needed, prioritize their removal.”
It says, “In addition, the evaluations will include recommendations to ensure continued intersection safety and operational effectiveness for pedestrians, cyclists and the driving public for each signal location.”