Dan,

Although I'm not familiar with the area I looked at the location on Google Maps

(http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Rensselaer,+NY&aq=0&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=51.754532,134.912109&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Rensselaer,+New+York&ll=42.656584,-73.711175&spn=0,0.004117&z=19&layer=c&cbll=42.656631,-73.711265&panoid=bkLVdNJKgm9euBas19XnSg&cbp=12,131.09,,0,11.45)

and it appears that the reason the signal was installed may have been based on people/students wanting to cross Washington Avenue. I don't want to make a judgement on whether a traffic engineering study was ever completed but one should be completed before removal. A good reference on the need for a traffic control signal can be found in the National Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). NYS has a supplement to the manual, but for your purposes Part 4 of the National manual will give you the requirements for establishing or removing a signal (http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2009/part4.pdf). At a minimum the signal in question does not have 2 heads and is therefore not in compliance with the manual. The City places itself in legal jeopardy by not being in compliance.

As you pointed out, if the signal is unjustified there is the consequence of time wasted not to mention the environmental cost of vehicles braking then accelerating. There is also a cost to the City to maintain the signal including the cost of the electric bill.

I doubt the City tracks SeeClickFix. I wasn't able to find a website for the city so unless you are successful in locating one I suggest that you use snail mail notifying them of your concerns and their potential liability.

Good Luck!