Meeting 2-- NY Route 2 Corridor Improvement Project Feedback

Michael II,•Troytraffic
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On October 9th, the good people at Creighton Manning and the city government of Troy, NY, held a second meeting for the NY Route 2 Corridor Improvement Project. During this meeting, Creighton Manning presented a slide show that demonstrated how they collected feedback and created two new concepts.

A1 Flow

My recommendations for the Route 2 Corridor Improvement Project are as follows:

  1. Consolidate Route 2 onto Ferry street as a bi-directional route.
  2. Consolidate the bike path onto Congress street as a bi-directional bike route, with one-way car traffic;
  3. Protect the bike path with a concrete barrier, and convert a few parking spots on the opposite side to serve as loading zones.
  4. Designate one parking spot per block for bike-only parking.

This aligns most closely with the new Proposal 1B (side note: why are we reusing numbers instead of calling this a "Proposal 2" if it’s a new concept?).

A1 Flow

Historically, nearby communities used this route, but not in the way we see today.

An old map of Troy showing the Trolley line connecting downtown Troy via Congress to the other towns to the East.

Before the current bridge, a trolley ran along Congress Street, connecting the area to neighboring towns. This was local transit, not an expressway like today’s Route 2. Reallocating Route 2 to Ferry Street would restore Congress Street to its original function as a local route.

As someone who has run on several streets in and out of Troy—from Eagle Mills to Emma Willard, from Monument Square up the Approach, past the RPI President's mansion on Tibbits, and onto Route 2 and back down—I know firsthand that certain roads here aren’t suited for bikes. I won’t ride my bike on Route 2 because it feels like a death sentence, particularly with the speeding out-of-state drivers who show little regard for local traffic. We can’t change the behavior of drivers from across state lines, which is precisely why this project needs #2: our bicycle traffic consists of locals and families who commute daily.

At the meeting, several residents voiced similar hopes, including a family excited to bike safely across the river to Price Chopper and other long-time residents who depend on Congress Street for their daily commutes.

1B Flow

Additionally, we need a concrete barrier to protect bicycles from vehicle traffic. I’ve seen trucks parked in bike lanes regularly, from 1st Street south of Adams to River Street south of Division. Even with road markings, I’ve had close calls with 18-wheelers twice. A dedicated concrete barrier would make Congress Street safe for families on bicycles, not just in theory but in reality.

A resident at the meeting said it best:

The reason why bike lanes suck in this town, compared to Montreal, is we lack commitment to a quality, permanent solution-- not these painted on divisions that can be scraped away in a week. This is a solved problem in other NE cities; the problem isn't a lack of solution, it's a lack of commitment.

Finally, to serve the biking community better, we should provide free parking for bicycles. Dedicating one parking spot per block to bikes would enhance Congress Street’s capacity to welcome visitors and improve accessibility. We could even look at installing charging stations for electric bikes in the future.

Learn more about this Creighton Manning & Alta project at their website: https://congressandferrycorridor.altago.site (opens in a new tab)

Provide feedback at: https://congressandferrycorridor.altago.site/#contact (opens in a new tab)

© Michael Gardner IIRSS