As the cop on the scene of my accident told the at-fault driver, “Someone waving you forward does not relieve you of your duty to look where you’re going.” If you want to be considerate to other drivers, obey the right-of-way and stop and yield signs (and slow down, get off the phone, don’t text, etc.). Never play traffic cop, and don’t obey people who do.
Nadia Steinzor, Willow
A better Broadway?
I studied the documents describing the $4.9 million project titled “Building a Better Broadway” and concluded a better title for the document would be “Screwing Up the Traffic Pattern on Broadway to Accommodate 0.8 Miles of Bike Lanes.” In brief, the study restricts motorized traffic north and south to a single lane and restricting the existing second lane to short left turn lanes at intersections.
North Front Street and Wall Street are examples of what the end result would be. To get a feeling of what the end result would be like, travel on North Front or Wall streets during business hours. Consider what you do when a delivery truck stops to make a delivery, or a car double parks. Of course you carefully move to the left into oncoming traffic to pass the obstacle. Keep in mind the traffic on those two streets is nowhere near the traffic on Broadway.
Or if you’re on Albany Avenue heading into Kingston think about the delays caused by traffic trying to make a left turn onto Route 587. 587 has the same short turning lane that would be replicated throughout the entire Broadway corridor. Also think about the fact the county and state is advocating a $4 million project to build a roundabout at that very intersection to “eliminate traffic congestion.”
When I question the need for this project at City Hall I’m told “we’re getting a $4 million grant (taxpayer money) and if we don’t spend it someone else will.” My answer: If someone else has a more deserving project, let them have it. When asked about the loss of 55 parking spaces I’m told “they aren’t that utilized and people can always park on the side streets or municipal lots and walk to their destination.” All this while the city is considering metering spaces in municipal lots.
The city is asking for your opinion on the Building a Better Broadway proposal, a good idea or not, agree or disagree, thoughts on how to make it better. I made my concerns known, you have to do the same and if you do nothing, don’t complain about the end result.
Ronald E. Dietl, Kingston
3)In Kingston, if you don’t wave another drive on MOST of the time, nothing ever MOVES. Hugh Reynolds on four-way stop intersections redux!! Get REAL on that!
2)Nice to applaud a letter that honors someone’s service after they’re dead. Nicer still to write one while they’re still alive. When I’m dead hopefully I’ll get one nice letter about my long service to the community in the wake of a bunch of utter nastiness written by former Mayor Sottile about me. At this rate I doubt it–pols remain rock stars.
1)Mayor Gallo put a lot of energy into a lot of things. Sadly, he followed such a disgusting act that he was perceived as too much a part of it, or so it seems…however at this point, the absentees have not been counted and thus Yogi Berra’s wisdom must be recalled:”It ain’t over ’til it’s over.”