DOT unveils Parkway plans

Officials propose lower speed limit, lane reduction

By Russ Tarby

Contributing Writer

Officials from the New York State Department of Transportation outlined proposed changes designed to increase safety along the two-mile-long Onondaga Lake Parkway, Route 370, in a public meeting held Nov. 14 at Chestnut Hill Elementary School.

If the estimated $8.6 million project goes forward as now planned, the biggest change would reduce the four-lane road which connects Interstate 81 to Liverpool to just two lanes, one running north and one south.

The DOT also proposes improvements to the five-way intersection at Heid’s Corners. An earlier plan called for the closing of First Street at the intersection of the Parkway and South Cypress Street, but that element is no longer part of the plan.

If the Parkway goes down to two lanes, many motorists will detour onto Old Liverpool Road, so the DOT proposes adding lanes and turn lanes at the corner of Electronics Parkway and Old Liverpool Road.

The road through Onondaga Lake Park has a history of crossover and run-off-the-road crashes, especially during the winter months. Over the last nine years, 14 vehicles, primarily tractor-trailers, have crashed into the Parkway’s 10-foot-9-inch railroad overpass.

Nearly 80 people attended Thursday’s meeting including elected representatives from the village of Liverpool and the town of Salina. They heard from DOT design engineer Ed Rodriguez and from Al Cowan of Lochner Engineering, who described the project as it presently stands.

The DOT’s proposed safety improvements would include:

• Reducing a portion of the Parkway from four lanes down to two lanes.

• Creating a 6-inch raised cement median would separate the two lanes for part of the Parkway, while a 30-inch-high box-beam median barrier would be placed elsewhere along the two lane portion of the roadway.

• Lowering the speed limit to 45 mph year-round; the speed limit is now 45 mph Nov. 15 through April 1 only; otherwise it’s set at 55 mph.

• Replacing the over-height vehicle detection system to prevent crashes into the CSX railroad overpass.

Both Rodriguez and Cowan explained that the road under the bridge cannot be lowered due to lakeside drainage concerns, and CSX has historically been unwilling to discuss raising the bridge it owns. Recently, however, Rodriguez said the DOT has learned that the railroad company would consider raising the bridge as long as the state paid for the project, estimated at tens of millions of dollars.

“We have to remember that it’s a parkway that goes through a park,” Rodriguez said. “We must maximize safety, but there are two things we can’t do: we can’t change the bridge and we can’t impact Onondaga Lake Park.”

Cowan reported that more than 60 crashes were recorded on the Parkway between 2016 and 2018, including seven bridge hits.

As Rodriguez and Cowan closed the formal presentation, one attendee shouted out, “Why won’t you answer our questions?”

Instead, a handful of DOT representatives mingled with the crowd and answered questions one-on-one, using large maps and photographic displays to illustrate their points.

Salina Town Supervisor Colleen Gunnip was disappointed by the meeting’s turnout.

“We hosted a previous meeting about the Parkway at the town hall a few years ago,” Gunnip said, “and hundreds of people attended that time. The DOT really needs to give the public more notice. I only received notice of this meeting two days ago and two days’ notice is not enough.”

Attending from the village of Liverpool were Mayor Gary White, Deputy Mayor Christina Fadden and Engineer Greg Sgromo. Also on hand were Onondaga County Sheriff Gene Conway and Onondaga County Parks Commissioner Bill Lansley.

The DOT is accepting comments from local citizens about the proposed Parkway plan through Dec. 5, Project ID No. 328723, which should be directed to Cynthia Bell at 333 E. Washington St., Syracuse, NY 13202; [email protected]; 315-428-4351.