15 replies to this topic

[Herb]

Being the kinder and gentler person that I have become I will reserve comment on the following projects. It's for the "Children" after all !

People are looking forward to the new pavilion, Mayor Susan Skidmore said.
New landscaping, a

security

camera and new playground equipment also are planned at Grove Park.
The pavilion was destroyed by a fire in March 2010. City officials are using about $225,000 in insurance to complete the project. In May, City Council voted to accept a $135,900 bid by Architectural Concrete Plus of Dundee.
In other business Monday, Burin told City Council that bids on Safe Routes to School projects have been advertised and are due for opening in mid-July.
Work will include the construction of two mini-roundabouts on Maple Avenue at the intersections of Caldwell Avenue and Horner Street to calm traffic near Riverside Elementary School, he said

[Bill]

Got build it to see if they are effective. I like circles, much more than traffic lights.

[Chuck]

Roundabouts do save time and fuel .

[tony]

Roundabouts do save time and fuel .

when they replace traffic lights. Not when they are used to "calm" traffic on previously unobstructed streets.

[Ralph]

Roundabouts do save time and fuel .

At Caldwell Ave & Horner St., Maple Ave is straight through, no stopping... I do believe that saves even more fuel than traffic circles.

This foolishness is just another attempt to slow traffic down on Maple Ave. Given the fact that that is their goal, would it not be cheaper to just install some speed bumps. Come on!!!!!

On a corresponding note, does anyone know how many kids are being hit by cars along Maple Ave in that neighborhood? Somebody is convincing The City that this is a huge problem. And, I'm just not seeing it. The speed limit is already dropped down to 20 or 25 mph in that whole part of Maple Ave... For God's sake, why don't they just shut it down and make into a pedestrian area? It seems like that is the goal!! Or how about a speed bump every 20 feet? Come on!! If we're gonna be ridiculous, let's get right at it!!1

[Chuck]

Sorry guys ,I have paid little attention to this as I might drive down Maple ave once a decade .LOL If the problem is school kids crossing ,make it a school zone ,enforce it and problem is solved . Also brings in money (tickets ) instead of spending money .

[Ralph]

I think they tried that school zone thing, Chuck....Herb lives down that way. He can confirm that; one way or the other. I grew up in that neighborhood and survived playing in & around Maple Ave quite nicely.

This whole thing was become somebody's "cause" and they simply will not let up on it. I don't know if it's somebody who has had a child or grandchild hit or nearly hit by a car on Maple Ave. I just don't know. But, it's a constant thing that's been going on for a few years and they have the ear of somebody in city hall.

The sad part is that I've seen other traffic situations in this county that truly are dangerous, multiple deaths have occurred, and nobody will even consider changes. For God's sake, Maple Ave was always a 30 MPH roadway. That should be enough of a slowdown to make it safe. Add in Chuck's idea of a school zone, put in a couple of crossing guards (which have been there in the past; don't know about these days), and it ought to be a safe residential area. It sure as hell was for me!!!!

Some self-important, pain-in-the-ass ought to go get a job & give up on this obsession!! End of rant!!

I'm wondering if this is the Watts family.... They seem to claim implied ownership of that end of Maple Ave.......

[Jerry]

when they replace traffic lights. Not when they are used to "calm" traffic on previously unobstructed streets.

Tell me about it... the infamous Ithaca has them all over the place, but in the form of partial circles, speed bumps, and "tables" (raised crosswalks just begging for an elderly person with a walker or a W/C to drift off the beveled edge). Ithaca Silly Council has made clear the purpose of "calming" traffic. What the heck... easier to shoot more accurately from a slower moving vehicle.

[Herb]

The last article I read on these things stated that Scott Drake was pushing for them along with Andy Avery. But let's put the blame where it ultimately belongs; The Elmira City Council that voted approval ! Bottom line in these obstructions is the fact that there have been crossing guards on both of those corners for years (also 2 guards on Riverside).
And as far as I know there have been NO accidents involving students on the way to Riverside School. I'll also point out that the City just removed a traffic light from Miller and Erie streets to speed up traffic on it's way to Maple Ave and the Parkway and there is a School on that street which needs no crossing guards or sineage at all. Must be those Pentacostals are a lot smarter then the Public School students. I'd also point out that Maple Ave is an emergency corridor for ambulances and fire apparatus crossing that part of the City on the way to fires and the St Joe's ! I wonder if they took that into consideration when they made the comment about cars being clocked going 50-60 mph ? (they used one of those mobile speed monitors btw for a period of time to record those speeds so no one really knows who was driving those cars/trucks/ambulances/fire-trucks). I'll be interested to see if the Crossing Guards are eliminated with the addition of these roundabouts though. And btw, I drive that route every day and night . Know where the vast majority of students cross ? Everywhere but the streets that have the crossing guards. Most of the time I see the "kids" flipping off the crossing guards as they cross a block or 2 north or south of them. Hell, I've even observed parents crossing with their children in the center of the block. Let's call it what it really is ; an inconvenience to everyone who travels Maple Ave to get to work. Between the roundabouts/School buses/Garbage trucks and sweeper it should be a hoot trying to get to work on time. Another bullshit idea from a City Council that has to look like it's actually doing something.

[girlyperks]

It is not what I've been hearing from a friend of mine in real estate. That Maple Avenue is being ear-marked for a historical section of the city. Prices are going through the roof (as will taxes, again) on properties along that stretch of dirt and asphalt for no real reason other than the investment of a hand full of locals with ties to city hall, a couple of local real estate parasites gouging even as we speak on properties locally. The round abouts are to draw attention to that section on the southside, the near west side thingy on the north side: all connected by corruption and greed to those connected. That's what I've been hearing from someone that has sold a few properties for others outside that circle jerk and no connections to city hall or local real estate manipulations and frauds. Elmira's finest representations at no bodies service but their own.

[Buster]

Andy Avery is a big fan of the roundabouts. He tried to put one at the bottom of Clinton St. hill as you enter the city and got beat down and had to stop the plan as the area residents blew a gasket. He claimed there was excessive speed in the area but a traffic study proved him wrong. Since he lived one block away and walks his dog through the area every day it seems he had a personal interest. The stop sign one block away has tamed the traffic issue years ago. I have yet to see anything that would convince me that these are good ideas yet.

[Bill]

I like them, they provide some green space and they feel european.

[Ralph]

I like them, they provide some green space and they feel european.

Whether they are liked or disliked is certainly a matter of opinion...Some will (like them, some won't). If new streets are being put in, there can be an intelligent discussion about the benefit of having/not having roundabouts. But, in these tough economic times, to rip up perfectly good street to install a roundabout is just spending money that we do NOT have to spend. Bad idea!!

Certainly, the Maple Ave roundabouts fall into that category. We should determine exact who is the driving force behind these Maple Ave roundabouts and give them two choices: 1. PAY FOR THEM YOURSELF!! or 2. FORGET ABOUT IT!! I don't see any need to spend one single nickel of my money on such a project.

[Bill]

I agree 100% Ralph. The fact that i like it, doesn't mean I want to pay for it here. If there is an identifiable need, and the justification outweighs the monetary outlay, put them in, if not, I am sure we can find other ways to spend the money.

[Ralph]

when they replace traffic lights. .......

Speaking of which, I notice that there are new(?), covered-up traffic lights hanging over the intersections on Rte 13 at Old Ithaca Rd and E. Franklin St where roundabouts are being built.

How are roundabouts and traffic lights going to be integrated? Any clues?

[Bill]

Poorly, is all I can come up with.

Traffic circles are supposed to negate the need for a light.