CICERO — Representatives from the New York State Department of Transportation met with members of the public at an open house Sept. 29 to answer questions and hear concerns about a proposed roundabout at the intersection of Route 31 and Thompson Road.
Curtis Jetter, public information officer for NYSDOT, said about 40 people attended the open house at the Cicero Highway Garage. Cicero Town Councilor Judy Boyke said the session was an opportunity for residents to see the proposals up close, ask questions and make comments.
While the session also included information about other planned improvements for Route 31, most attendees’ questions and concerns had to do with the proposed roundabout, according to David Smith, regional director for NYSDOT Region 3.
The NYSDOT considered adding a left turn lane at the Thompson-31 intersection, but state officials said in July that the addition of a left turn lane would only result in a level of service (LOS) D.
“We’ll be able to achieve an A with the roundabout,” Smith said. “Traffic is always moving at a roundabout. Traffic signals have to stop.”
Many auto accidents occur at traffic lights, especially “rear-ends and right angles,” Smith said.
DOT officials said the roundabout would reduce congestion because drivers approaching the intersection would only have to yield, not stop. The curves of the roundabout would lower vehicle speeds, potentially reducing the severity of crashes. Eliminating a traffic signal would reduce electricity and maintenance costs as well.
Cicero Police Chief Steve Rotunno expressed his concerns about traffic safety at the Thompson-31 intersection and said the DOT should consider a left turn lane.
“This stretch [of Route 31] clearly has an issue with people not stopping at white hazard lines,” Rotunno added.
As for pedestrian safety, the roundabout will feature push-buttons that activate rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFBs) to alert drivers when someone is trying to cross.
“It’s really effective, especially late at night,” said Scott Bates, NYSDOT civil engineer.
The roundabout also will include “splitter islands” that would allow pedestrians to stop between lanes of traffic instead of trying to rush across multiple lanes. Cicero Town Supervisor Bill Meyer said he has seen many roundabouts in Florida with creatively landscaped islands.
Meyer pointed to the city of Auburn for an example of an efficient roundabout.
“What I like about it is coming up to it, you can see all around,” he said. “Both of those [in Auburn and Florida] work, but the Florida ones don’t have as much snow.”
Snow removal is a consideration for NYSDOT, according to Smith.
“It’s a little bit more challenging to plow,” he said.
Boyke said NYSDOT also needs to take into account the concerns of local first responders and the North Syracuse Central School District.
“When school lets out and the buses are out and about, that Thompson Road roundabout is going to be their nightmare,” Boyke said.
NYSDOT continues to accept public comment on the Route 31. Direct your comments to Loren K. Gosselin, P.E., at [email protected] or NYSDOT Region 3, Senator Hughes State Office Building, 333 E. Washington St., Syracuse, NY 13202. All correspondence should refer to: PIN 3037.71 and 3037.74, Route 31 Highway Projects.
View the project brochure and download a mail-in comment form at ciceronewyork.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DOT-Route-31.pdf.
