Airport says nothing ’s wrong with traffic light timing

Every day I drive by the airport on Albany Shaker Road and usually have a long wait at the main entrance to the airport. Clearly, the light is not timed based on the traffic on Albany Shaker and the traffic exiting the airport. While cars are backed up each way on Albany Shaker Road, there may be one or two cars exiting the airport and sometimes no cars. I have seen very long lines on Albany Shaker Road, especially heading west in the morning and east in the evening. I think traffic would move much more efficiently if the lights would be timed according to need.

Can something be done about this? —Dennis Frank, Delmar Albany International Airport controls the traffic lights at the airport entrance, according to spokesman Doug Myers, and the airport stands by the signal programming.

“The traffic timing is based on an engineering/traffic study, is in accordance with industry standards and has been in effect for several years,” he said.

Route 146 corridor, Clifton Park: Clifton Park has secured $7 million for the planning phase of upgrades to the intersection of Route 149 and Route 9, Clifton Park town supervisor Phil Barrett announced.

The final approval was recently provided by the Capital District Transportation Committee’s policy committee, of which Barrett is a member.

This follows $5 million secured for planning intersection safety improvements and reconstruction at Route 146 and Clifton Country Road.

“The $12 million in funding for the two intersections has commenced a process leading to improved traffic flow and enhanced

pedestrian access in the Route 146 Corridor,” Barrett said in a press release.

The state Department of

Transportation has already begun the planning process, and representatives recently attended a meeting with Barrett, planning staff and corporate personnel from Chickfil-a.

U.S. Route 9 ramps:

The ramps from Route 9 to eastbound I-90 will be closed as part of an ongoing bridge project from 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8, to 3 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 3.

Drivers on Route 9 looking to go east on I-90 will be detoured to westbound I-90 to the Everett Road exit, where they can loop around to reach eastbound I-90, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Also watch for up to two lanes to be closed on I-90 east approaching Exit 6A when the ramps are closed.

CDPHP Cycle!:

CDPHP Cycle! recently posted a record-breaking 50,000 rides so far in 2021, with two months left in the riding season, the Capital District Transportation Authority announced. One thousand of those came in Warren County, where the bike share program expanded in May with four hubs.

The riding season ends on November 30.

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.