Hello, our initial petition got the attention of Gov Hochul and NYS DOT Comm. Dominguez. DOT responded with a project study to help effectuate safety improvements on Route 7 in Niskayuna. Sadly, NYSDOT recently gave a "Route 7 Traffic Calming Project" presentation to Niskayuna town reps, and their proposal is devoid of two critical safety elements necessary to reduce the likelihood of accidents and save lives on Rte 7. DOT rejected proposals to install ANY controlled traffic lights, and rejected the idea to lower the speed limit in this danger area from 40 mph, down to 30 or 35 mph. DOT said that 85% of the vehicles on Rte 7 are driving 50 mph or faster, and will likely still be speeding after its proposed work is done in December 2027. Totally unacceptable. Share this petition, call, email, text message the Governor, DOT Commissioner, Region 1 Director, Niskayuna Supervisor, Board Members, Police Chief. Voice your concerns.. This DOT plan is not OK. Thank you, Joe Yakel
To: Governor Kathy Hochul, NYS DOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez, NYS Police Superintendent Steven James
Save lives, reduce collisions - Fix the Route 7 public safety problems in Niskayuna
Governor Hochul and Commissioner Dominguez and Superintendent James,
There is a very dangerous section of roadway and road conditions in the Town of Niskayuna on Route 7 (also known as Troy-Schenectady Road). The most dangerous part of this road runs along a 1.5 mile stretch that starts at the intersection of Pearse Road and Route 7, and ends at St. David’s Lane and Route 7.
This particular section of road runs thru residential neighborhoods, and passes by Bellevue Women’s Hospital. There have been at least 5 fatalities on this part of Route 7 in the last few years, with 2 pedestrians who died while trying to cross the road. This road cuts thru the heart of our town, in more ways than one.
Route 7, especially along the Bellevue Hospital corridor, has been the site of many, many single vehicle, multiple vehicle, and vehicle-pedestrian collisions, with a growing number of fatalities.
The road in this area is dangerous and susceptible to collisions for several reasons, including the grade of the road, the curve in the road, areas of limited visibility at intersections and points along the road.
Compounding the road deficiencies, there is habitual speeding and reckless driving on this road, which has posted speeds of 40-45 mph. Cars travel on the road at much higher speeds, weave in and out of traffic, tail gate, and even use the center median which should only be used for turning onto side roads or driveways, to pass other cars. DOT survey results indicate that 85% of the 20,000+ vehicles that drive daily on this section of Route 7 are speeding 10 mph or more (driving at least 50 mph in the posted 40 mph zone).
Exacerbating the road conditions, and high speed, reckless driving, Route 7 has NO traffic lights or cross walks for 1.5 miles in this Bellevue Hospital corridor. There is no safe way for pedestrians to cross the road along this entire area. There are no public safety features, like lights, cross walks, speed bumps, or other safety features to slow down, or stop vehicles to allow for safe pedestrian movement. The lack of traffic lights also impede the ability of vehicles on side roads attempting to enter Route 7.
Unless NYS DOT takes immediate action to install public safety features, including traffic lights and cross walks, at key intersections along the Bellevue Hospital corridor of Route 7, and reduces the posted speed limit on this road to 30-35 mph, we will continue to run the high risk of collisions, injuries and fatalities along Route 7. This is a life and death situation that must be fixed immediately.
I am asking that Governor Hochul direct the DOT commissioner to immediately dispatch DOT engineers to Niskayuna, and fast track the financing and resources for all necessary survey work, and the installation of traffic lights and crosswalks in the 1.5 mile Bellevue Hospital corridor of Route 7. The installation of traffic lights and crosswalks are essential, and a posted speed limit reduction to 30-35 mph, are critical public safety measures that must be employed to reduce the high speed traffic on the road. These substantive engineering measures are critical to allow pedestrians to safely cross from one side of Route 7 to the other and slow traffic to mitigate the frequency and impact of collisions on the road.
I am also urging Governor Hochul to immediately direct the Acting NYS Police Superintendent Steven James to coordinate and oversee a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement effort to reduce speeding, collisions and fatalities along Route 7. Route 7 traverses portions of Schenectady and Albany counties, running from the City of Schenectady, through Niskayuna, and into parts of Latham and Colonie. The roadway passes through multiple municipal jurisdictions, and requires a combined effort of NYS Police, Albany and Schenectady County Sheriff resources, as well as Niskayuna and Schenectady City PD assets. Since Route 7 is a state controlled road, the NYS Police are best situated with manpower and resources to direct and coordinate this life saving public safety effort.
There is a very dangerous section of roadway and road conditions in the Town of Niskayuna on Route 7 (also known as Troy-Schenectady Road). The most dangerous part of this road runs along a 1.5 mile stretch that starts at the intersection of Pearse Road and Route 7, and ends at St. David’s Lane and Route 7.
This particular section of road runs thru residential neighborhoods, and passes by Bellevue Women’s Hospital. There have been at least 5 fatalities on this part of Route 7 in the last few years, with 2 pedestrians who died while trying to cross the road. This road cuts thru the heart of our town, in more ways than one.
Route 7, especially along the Bellevue Hospital corridor, has been the site of many, many single vehicle, multiple vehicle, and vehicle-pedestrian collisions, with a growing number of fatalities.
The road in this area is dangerous and susceptible to collisions for several reasons, including the grade of the road, the curve in the road, areas of limited visibility at intersections and points along the road.
Compounding the road deficiencies, there is habitual speeding and reckless driving on this road, which has posted speeds of 40-45 mph. Cars travel on the road at much higher speeds, weave in and out of traffic, tail gate, and even use the center median which should only be used for turning onto side roads or driveways, to pass other cars. DOT survey results indicate that 85% of the 20,000+ vehicles that drive daily on this section of Route 7 are speeding 10 mph or more (driving at least 50 mph in the posted 40 mph zone).
Exacerbating the road conditions, and high speed, reckless driving, Route 7 has NO traffic lights or cross walks for 1.5 miles in this Bellevue Hospital corridor. There is no safe way for pedestrians to cross the road along this entire area. There are no public safety features, like lights, cross walks, speed bumps, or other safety features to slow down, or stop vehicles to allow for safe pedestrian movement. The lack of traffic lights also impede the ability of vehicles on side roads attempting to enter Route 7.
Unless NYS DOT takes immediate action to install public safety features, including traffic lights and cross walks, at key intersections along the Bellevue Hospital corridor of Route 7, and reduces the posted speed limit on this road to 30-35 mph, we will continue to run the high risk of collisions, injuries and fatalities along Route 7. This is a life and death situation that must be fixed immediately.
I am asking that Governor Hochul direct the DOT commissioner to immediately dispatch DOT engineers to Niskayuna, and fast track the financing and resources for all necessary survey work, and the installation of traffic lights and crosswalks in the 1.5 mile Bellevue Hospital corridor of Route 7. The installation of traffic lights and crosswalks are essential, and a posted speed limit reduction to 30-35 mph, are critical public safety measures that must be employed to reduce the high speed traffic on the road. These substantive engineering measures are critical to allow pedestrians to safely cross from one side of Route 7 to the other and slow traffic to mitigate the frequency and impact of collisions on the road.
I am also urging Governor Hochul to immediately direct the Acting NYS Police Superintendent Steven James to coordinate and oversee a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement effort to reduce speeding, collisions and fatalities along Route 7. Route 7 traverses portions of Schenectady and Albany counties, running from the City of Schenectady, through Niskayuna, and into parts of Latham and Colonie. The roadway passes through multiple municipal jurisdictions, and requires a combined effort of NYS Police, Albany and Schenectady County Sheriff resources, as well as Niskayuna and Schenectady City PD assets. Since Route 7 is a state controlled road, the NYS Police are best situated with manpower and resources to direct and coordinate this life saving public safety effort.
Why is this important?
Residents in the Town of Niskayuna, and others, including family members of accident victims, have repeatedly called upon the town, Schenectady County, NYS DOT, and others, to make Route 7 safer for travelers, pedestrians, pets, and even animals that use and cross this road. Those requests for action have substantively been ignored. Year after year, there is talk about what to do to fix Route 7, and year after year nothing is done. More accidents happen and more people get hurt or killed. We need to put a stop to that once and for all.