Description
The traffic signal at the intersection of State Street and Willet Street was removed about year to a year and half ago. A stop sign was placed on the right hand side of the road on the corner of the park. Since this has happened the rush hour traffic through this intersection is filled with horns due to no one yielding or taking turns at the intersection. For 45 minutes to an hour, daily, horns and yelling can be heard down the entire block. I've also witnessed reckless driving by some motorists trying to squeeze by vehicles. In addition, during non-rush hour times, I've witnessed dozens of cars running the stop sign, either because they can't see it, or choose to ignore it. I've almost been struck by speeders missing the sign several times, and I've witnessed my neighbors almost be struck. I'm sure the reason for the traffic signals removal was reasonable at the time, but I hope it can be reconsidered. It doesn't have to be a cycle of red/yellow/green, just a flashing red to let drivers know their approaching an intersection would be great. Thank you for your consideration.
also asked...
A. Noise from honking horns and pedestrian safety
A. State Street and Willet Street
7 Comments
City of Albany Admin 3 (Verified Official)
Colleen Ryan (Registered User)
JFN (Registered User)
I live at that intersection and have not witnessed any rush hour back up, honking, or yelling motorists as a result of the removal of the stop lights. Perhaps that happens on festival days, but not on a daily basis. That said, the signage that has replaced the stop lights is woefully inadequate. Part of the problem lies in the fact that the City -- so I have been told by the Parking Authority -- did not implement all the necessary signage measures because the road was scheduled to be repaired and repaved last year, so they were holding off to do all the work at once.
The road has not been repaved, we have no indication that the work will be undertaken any time soon, and now we are left with a stop sign on State Street that is positioned too far west from the intersection, and people do not see it. The white lines of the cross walk are stripped and not very visible. There is no white stop bar in advance of the cross walk or the word "STOP" in white on the ground, which would also help.
I believe that the removal of the stop lights was actually the appropriate move for this two-way intersection. It can and should be a traffic smoothing and calming measure. But to make it truly effective and safe, the City must act to introduce the other features that will make the stop on State Street move obvious. People do run that sign all too frequently. As it is now, unfinished, it's a hazard. But with the right signage, it would be a safety enhancer.
Closed APD Traffic Engineering (Registered User)
Reopened hex (Registered User)
Jess (Registered User)
Closed Jess (Registered User)