Columbia County news

This excerpted story is provided courtesy of the latest issue of The Columbia Paper, which can be seen online at www.columbiapaper.com.

Speed limit now 50 mph on Route 203

KINDERHOOK — The state has reduced the speed limit on Route 203 from 55 mph to 50 mph along the route from the village of Valatie to the village of Chatham.

After the road crosses the town line from Kinderhook to Chatham, the speed is now 40 mph.

The town of Kinderhook received a letter from the state Department of Transportation right before the Nov. 7 board meeting. The Chatham Board of Trustees also received the letter and discussed it at its meeting Nov. 8.

“I’m so glad that that happened,” said Chatham Village Mayor Tom Curran at the Thursday night meeting.

The letter, dated Oct. 31, says, “Upon consideration of the towns of Ghent, Chatham and Kinderhook, village of Chatham and public support for a lower speed limit, and consideration of the results of the study, the DOT will reduce the speed limit on Route

203 from the Village of Chatham/town of Ghent northerly line, to a point just south of the town of Chatham/town of Kinderhook line (bridge over Kline Kill) to 40 mph … and from the town of Kinderhook/village of Valatie southerly line to 50 mph.”

The state had plans to complete the changes by the end of December, according to the letter, but the letter did not indicate the change would happen so soon. — Emilia Teasdale