To the editor,
First, the No Left Turn sign mentioned is at the exit of Kittell Road and refers to a left from Kittell to westbound Genesee. There is no sign on Genesee. There is a large area marked on both sides with a double yellow line, filled with yellow hashmarks. All of us should remember that crossing a double line is illegal in New York State. There are no exceptions. Not even in Onondaga County where many of the traffic laws are seen as “advisory only.”
First, we believe that the only permanent solution is a raised island in the middle of Genesee Street. This would prevent drivers from making the illegal left turn from westbound Genesee to Kittell and the illegal left turn from Kittell onto westbound Genesee. A triangle, while helpful, would not deter many drivers around here. All you need to do is watch cars entering Aldi’s or the Fayetteville Town Centre around a triangle after making an illegal turn across double yellow lines.
Second, our additional concern is for people who cannot possible stand the minor delay at Maple and Genesee in order to make a perfectly legal right on red at that intersection. They use our street as a speedway to save a few seconds when they want to turn right onto eastbound Genesee. We have been asked by the Town Board for a petition, this time according to the minutes, for a triangle. (That’s not what I heard in the meeting, but no matter.) We have presented the Town Board with petitions in the past, but we, the leaders of the Kittell Road Project, have committed to doing it again, and we will.
Third, all we ask is that the law, the existing law, is enforced. We are tired of waiting for triangles, culs de sac, speed bumps, etc. We simply want the police to enforce the law about left turn across double yellow lines not into driveways. In our case drivers are crossing two, not one but two, double yellow lines, a clear violation of the law. Then, to enhance their behavior they ignore the post 20mph speed request (and frankly the state standard 30mph), also failing to stop at the stop sign at Kittell and Hobson, all in an attempt to shave perhaps 1.5 minutes at the intersection of Maple and Genesee (I timed the light yesterday). We understand that the Town Board has no authority to order the police to do anything and that the board did agree to request help from the department, but we have yet to see any patrol cars in the neighborhood.
Come spend a day at my house. Try to walk your dog. Try to let your kids ride their bikes. Try to cut your grass. Try to take a walk. Live our lives. You will understand just how inconsiderate and dangerous the pass-through drivers are. All to save 1.5 minutes at Genesee and Maple.
Peter Lotto
DeWitt
