In March, it was made known that, according to NYS Department of Transportation, Special Dimension Vehicles (SDVs)--that is, trucks greater in length than 48 feet or tandem trucks--traveling on Route 9G north of what was originally L&B Furniture were doing so illegally. The only legal truck route through Hudson was Route 9 in the eastern part of the city. Gossips' posts at the time about this issue can be found here and here.
At the Common Council ad hoc Truck Route Committee meeting last night, Councilmember Margaret Morris (First Ward), who chairs the committee, reported that the Hudson Police Department, with the help of the New York State Police, were willing to enforce the restriction. A problem in the past was that there was no place along the route to pull trucks over and inform them that they could not proceed beyond the turnoff to the building that now houses the Antiques Warehouse unless they were making a delivery within the City of Hudson. That problem has been resolved. In building its controversial "haul road," Colarusso has created strips of gravel along the side of Route 9G, where a truck can be pulled over.
Eliminating through truck traffic on Route 9G has a downside. Hudson is required to provide access for through-traffic trucks entering the city from the south on Route 9, from the north on Route 9, from the east on Route 23B, or from the north on Route 66. That route is, from the south, along Worth Avenue, the upper part of Warren Street, Park Place, and Green Street. At last night's meeting, Council president Tom DePietro, who lives on Worth Avenue, asked if the committee was "celebrating" increasing the number of trucks having to make the turn at Warren and Park Place, adding that he wanted "clarity for a really poorly thought-out idea."
DePietro's statement seems to be based on the assumption that all trucks unable to pass through Hudson on the "western route"--Third Street to Columbia Street to Green Street--will take the "eastern route"--Worth Avenue to Warren Street to Park Place to Columbia Street to Green Street. That might not actually be what happens.
Eliminating the second truck route through Hudson could have the effect of weaning trucks off the habit of getting to their destination in Greenport or beyond by driving through Hudson. Trucks not making deliveries in Hudson could opt to avoid the city altogether and continue on Route 23 to Route 9H. Avoiding Hudson could become even more appealing to truckers when the speed limit throughout the city is reduced to 25 mph.
In any event, how serious will we seem about wanting to reduce truck traffic in Hudson if we are unwilling to enforce the law restricting trucks in the city that already exists?
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Even if a tractor trailer can turn around on the bay road in one turn, is that really what we want happening along that stretch of speedy road?
ReplyDeleteThe idea is not that they would be turned around. The idea is that they would be warned so that they won't do it ever again.
DeleteAnd if they ever do it again? Another warning if they are pulled over AGAIN?
ReplyDeleteWhile Hudson police officers are spending time "warning" truckers outside of downtown Hudson, what about our downtown streets with all the vehicles speeding and running red lights and stop signs? Yesterday at 5:30 am I watched as a car blew right through the stop sign at State & 6th headed west going at least 25 mph, the driver never touching the brakes. He knew exactly what he was doing, obviously unconcerned about being caught running the sign. Where were the cops giving that driver a ticket or "warning"? Our short-staffed HPD can barely police our downtown streets but we want them (and they are okay with) "warning" truckers on the bay road? This is absurd! HPD should not be dealing with trucks on the bay road. Pull tractor trailers over on State Street, give them a ticket for being off the truck route and THEN warn them to never attempt to drive through Hudson on or off of the truck route again. "If we see you and your big rig here again, HPD Commissioner Shane Bower, Police Chief Franklin and Margaret Morris will be having a little talk with you down by the cement plant on the river." Now there's a warning that just might be effective!
Agreed.
DeleteThe corner at 7th and Park is already a horrendous turn for large trucks. With the addition of The Roastery it has become an attractive spot, but extra trucks could have an impact on the outdoor seating. Hopefully trucks will heed the signs on R23 and continue on to 9H. There should also be a sign prior to the Worth Ave Rte 9 exit off 23.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! And there are far too many Roastery customers parking on both sides of Park Place in clearly marked NO PARKING zones who are walking in to get their drinks and snacks. HPD does nothing to improve the situation. One of the HPD parking enforcers recently agreed with me that the situation in front of the Roastery has gone from bad to horrible. He said, "Someone's going to get hit crossing the street there soon." I agreed. Of course, the coffee shop at the truck route corner is due to expand soon.
DeleteHAH! Tom DiPietro commenting on a "poorly thought out idea" is like the Captain of the Titanic telling the dock workers, "Nah, we won't be needing those life jackets! She's indestructible!"
ReplyDeleteHow will the HPD know which trucks are actually delivering goods into the city and which trucks are just passing through?
ReplyDeleteI think the idea is they stop every truck and ask.
DeleteHopefully they do not waste resources on this as there are way more important issues for our wonderful police department to focus on.
ReplyDeleteHPD and state police will need to notify trucks to pull over well before the haul road space they will be pulling into off of 9G. They can't just flag trucks into the area, can they? Surely we don't want that! So where do they wait to follow trucks and pull them over? At the Mt. Merino intersection? At the top of the hill where there is no shoulder and the speed limit is 55? This makes no sense! It simply won't happen, it's all talk. Yada yada.
ReplyDeleteDid our police chief say how her officers are going to pull tractor trailers over or did she just say they would do it when the time comes? It's not that easy. You need a safe and sensible strategy on a narrow, speedy, winding two lane highway at the bottom of a long and steep hill, and I don't think it's possible. Stick to Union, Warren and State and figure out how to use a radar gun effectively on those streets!
This is bad news for all us on Worth Ave. and anyone who cares about 7th St. Park.
ReplyDeleteI hope Margaret will go back to consideration of speed bumps, reduced speed zone, "Slow down, your speed is..." signs, etc.