The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) has agreed to make numerous transportation related changes inside the Manlius village limits, including adding stoplights and turning lanes, modifying stoplight timers, adding new road lanes and relocating a crosswalk.
The DOT decision was the result of several concerns raised by the Manlius Village Board at a meeting between the two entities in April.
Manlius Mayor Paul Whorrall presented a letter from the DOT Regional Traffic Engineer Diana Graser at the July14 village board meeting, which included steps of action the DOT already has taken or is planning to make in regards to village concerns.
Issues relating to traffic lights were reviewed by the DOT, and maintenance to the Flume Road and Tops Driveway intersection light as well as modifications to timing programs within the village to make lights more responsive overnight have already been executed by the DOT, according to Graser’s letter.
Still to come will be several minor changes in the traffic and pedestrian layout of the village, according to the letter.
The DOT has agreed that modifying the signal on Arkie Albanese Avenue and Fayette Street to allow a northbound right turn signal to go with a left turn westbound signal on Fayette Street would be beneficial for traffic flow. In addition, the DOT agrees two westbound lanes on Route 173 between North and Franklin streets are needed.
One of the biggest changes will be the relocation of the crosswalk across Route 92 near Mill Street. The crosswalk will be moved further down, closer to the Feats of Clay store location, said Whorrall. The relocation is contingent on the village’s installation of handicap accessible ramps, the relocation of the park bench and removal of trees east of the crosswalk, he said.
The DOT also has agreed to install rectangular rapid flash beacon lights at the relocated crosswalk to help alert drivers when pedestrians are in the crosswalk.
Some traffic concerns from the village board were not recommended based on the studies done by the DOT, including eliminating one eastbound lane on Route 173 near the health center, installing a protective left turn arrow for eastbound traffic on the intersection of Stickley Drive and Route 92.
“I’m glad they were able to make most of the changes we requested,” said Whorrall.
Also at the meeting, the board:
—Heard an update on the fire station project on Enders Road and Route 92 from Trustee Scott McGrew. According to McGrew, the Fire Facilities Committee has met with the architects and have sent in revised plans for them to consider in finalizing the layout, including making some of the rooms smaller.
“Some of the rooms seemed to be too big for the purpose they were there for,” said McGrew.
The Fire Facilities Committee plans to finalize the purchase of the properties for the planned building in the next month, said McGrew.
—Discussed replacing the local events and activities promotions board at the intersection of Route 92 and Fayetteville-Manlius Road. Whorrall mentioned the possibility of replacing the old board with an electronic or LED sign, saying it would give the opportunity for a lot of organizations and communities to get the word of their events to the public.
“The sign is not in good shape,” said Whorrall. “Chittenango has one that they can program to change so a lot of different events are shown in one place … There’s a lot of options we can choose from.”
The board decided to let the Parks and Recreation Board look into the matter to come up with recommendations at a later date.
—Set a public hearing for 7:05 p.m. on Aug. 11 at the next regular board meeting for the MS4 Annual Report. This report has to be done on an annual basis by municipalities and relates to the stormwater and sewer data within a sewer system.
Hayleigh Gowans is a reporter for the Eagle Bulletin. She can be reached at [email protected].
