The following information concerns the proposed treatment of the right hand turn lane of the Buffalo Street/Route 96 bridge over the Flood Control Channel.
The proposed lane merge was tested with barrels placed in the right hand lane for a two week period between May 5 and May 19, 2004. Videotapes from both the east and west were shot during the peak evening hours to observe and document the effect on the traffic flow and merging.
The following observations were made by James Elmer, Bergmann Associates Traffic Engineer in a June 14, 2004 memorandum entitled Observed Traffic Impacts of Lane Closure, “The lane closure of the westbound right-turn lane from NY Route 96 at Park Road was observed to produce few impacts to traffic operations at the Buffalo Street Bridge over the flood control channel. In general, intersection queues with the lane closure in place were observed to be the same or slightly larger than existing intersection queues. Slight fluctuations in average vehicle queues for the same peak hour are not uncommon from week to week due to the variability of traffic during the peak hour. Therefore the slight increases in observed average queue length are insignificant. The lane closure was observed to provide better control of westbound traffic. Vehicles traveling westbound on Route 96 were observed to merge sooner and in a more fluid manner as a result of the lane closure.”
Albert Vetter, NYSDOT Regional Planning and Program Manager (now retired), commented in a November 8, 2004 letter after reviewing the videotapes and the memorandum from James Elmer referred to above, that “We have found no significant impacts on existing traffic operations during the May 2004 test. However, there were no positive impacts on vehicular traffic either. Therefore, the results of the test yielded a neutral effect on traffic conditions.” He went on to express his concern that future increases in traffic volumes might limit options for future efficient traffic flow if the lane closure was permanent. Thus, at NYSDOT’s recommendation, the bridge lane closure system is designed to be removable.
We have observed some motorists use this right hand turning to pass motorists who have merged in the left lane. An article in the January 24, 2004 Ithaca Journal described a crash that occurred when two vehicles, one in the right turn lane, sped up as they approached the traffic light at Park Road and neither would yield to the other. To view this article, click here . We have also observed that some motorists wait to merge until they are on the curved portion of the bridge where visibility is poor. We feel that this is a cost effective and creative use of this underutilized motor vehicle traffic lane for creating a safe trail crossing of the Flood Channel while not impacting motor vehicle traffic on the bridge.
Susan Blumenthal wrote an Opinion column in the Wednesday, 11-19 issue of the Ithaca Journal. To view and download this Opinion column as a pdf file, click here . Click here for a link to the newspaper's November 29 Opinion page.
The link to the printable/high resolution version of the graphic is:
http://www.theithacajournal.com/assets/pdf/AF518151129.PDF
A rebuttal to the Blumenthal piece by Robert Romanowsk was run in the Ithaca Journal on Wednesday, December 6. Click here to read that opinion piece.
What about the Buffalo Street Bridge over Cayuga Inlet, between Fulton Street and Route 89?
A new trail bridge will be constructed over the Cayuga Inlet directly adjacent and north of the existing Buffalo Street Bridge. This crossing is much shorter than the bridge crossing over the Flood Channel. Trail development plans have no impact on traffic between Fulton Street and the Station's Railroad Cars.
