My background: I am a native Ithacan, volunteer fireman since 1959, 10-year former member of the Common Council representing this area and am presently serving as chair of the Board of Fire Commissioners. At this point, I am not speaking for the board nor its position on the project but will be bringing up the topic for discussion in subsequent meetings.

I have a major problem with the elimination of a traffic lane from this bridge from a public safety standpoint relating to the passage of emergency vehicles to and from the very busy and congested greater West Hill area. There was, to my knowledge, an informational session held with area emergency services to discuss this project, but I do not see any ambulance, police or fire department concerns being addressed at this time.

To travel through this area is to experience the serious traffic problems that are present, especially at the peak commuting periods. The shortsighted decisions on traffic mitigation, new roads and/or overpasses and other route configurations made or ignored in the 1980s are now having a major impact on efficient and safe traffic flow. The last 20 years have seen a tremendous expansion of business enterprises, housing and medical facilities in the Route 96 corridor with their accessibility impacts and life safety considerations. Not only the generation of increases in personal and bus traffic, there is now the passage of tractor trailer loads of garbage haulers to and from the Seneca Meadows landfill (100-plus coming and going daily), the ever-present 100- to 130-car trains coming through and lastly, the at-grade intersections of major road routes with ill-timed traffic light sequences.

One of the arguments put forth by the proponents of the trail project for lane elimination from vehicle traffic is that this lane is primarily used as a raceway by immature and aggressive drivers vying to get into the Cliff Street roadway and has been the cause of accidents. I couldn't agree more as I have personally experienced this situation many times, but I think there is a better way to eliminate this problem. Make this lane the single lane going westbound and convert the bridge's remaining two lanes to eastbound only, with the merge starting immediately where Cliff Street goes into the bridge, and further add left turn signal delays at the Taughannock and Buffalo Street intersection. It will allow drivers to make their left turns with minimum traffic delays. This technique is in use now at other busy intersections throughout the city. Why not here?

A reference was made as to a videotaped traffic study conducted in May of 2004 involving “striping the proposed merge and blockage of the lane with barrels to simulate the new configuration.” My home is on Bundy Road (off Route 96), and I pass through this area on almost a daily basis. For the life of me, I cannot remember such a blockage actually taking place (unless conducted at nighttime, sans traffic). These tapes, if they exist, would be an excellent resource and review tool for all emergency services along with the public to see the actual impacts on such a change. (Editor's note: The Journal has requested a copy of the tape. It is expected to arrive in Ithaca in a few days). The Ithaca Fire Department would be especially interested because of its responsibility for rapid responses to the Cayuga Medical Center, nursing homes and housing complexes in the area as well as police and ambulance services as needed. A public viewing would allow newspapers and other media sources to fully inform the public as to the scope of proposed changes.

Finally, it would allow the New York State Department of Transportation, City of Ithaca, Town of Ithaca and Tompkins County Public Works Departments to review the project's impacts on such services as snow removal, road maintenance and other areas of responsibility.

My conclusion: The diminution of options for safe, efficient traffic flow for the sake of a recreational project is not a viable solution to the project. Public safety should always be the primary concern for the individuals engaged in the planning and implementation of any such public use project.

We are fortunate to have a large body of talented and civic minded members of the community whose expertise could be accessed for ideas and suggestions in the design of alternative routes that would be feasible and doable, serving the interests of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail's proponents.