Oneida Square roundabout

[clarencebunsen]

It is a chore, removing 6-12" of lake effect from the tables and benches.

[bobbbiez]

Jan 26, 2011 22:30:48 GMT -5 clarencebunsen said:

It is a chore, removing 6-12" of lake effect from the tables and benches.

Yeah and it's all Clipper's fault with him producing the "Clipper system" all the time.

[dgriffin]

That's his niece, Alberta Clipper.

[bobbbiez]

lol!!!!!

[Clipper]

Another option would be to spend the roundabout money to replace the lights from Bagg Square to The parkway and then to synchronize them to make traffic flow smoother and with less interruption. Stop signs on all the side streets? haha. There probably are SOME streets that don't need a light any more. Just don't take the one away at Hobart and Genny. Ralph does need to be able to get out of there with ease. Hey DD's needs to be manned at all times.

Alberta Clipper has been banished from the family and we don't admit any family tie. She has been pasting us almost as hard as she has you guys this year. I don't admit any relationship to her at all.

[clarencebunsen]

Is she the one who does the vocals & keyboard with the country/punk fusion band at Saranac Thursdays?

[Deleted]

I have never had a problem driving around Oneida Square. Has the city done a traffic study to see what the accident rate is in that area? The city has to kick in 5% of the pricetag for this boondoggle, money that can be used for paving or sewer repairs which is going to cost a fortune for taxpayers. Roundabouts are a huge headache, but Roefaro doesn't care because he'll be bragging about so called progress come election time. I just cannot believe that the city is going to piss away all this money on this idiocy. It's a joke.

[Swimmy]

The reason he is pushing for this atrocity is even simpler than a re-election attempt, kracker. He will be able to immortalize himself as a mayor of progress for decades to come. That's his primary objective, re-election is an indirect bonus.

I agree, though, that the money being wasted on this would be better spent repaving the various potholes and failing traffic signals plaguing the area. But the mayor has already stated that he sees no potholes or failing traffic lights.

[dgriffin]

Kracker, yes, insurance companies and various agencies keep track of such data and no study would be needed for the overall accident rate.

I wouldn't say I'm in favor of a roundabout for Oneida Square ... I haven't lived in the area or spent much time on Genesee St. in many, many years ... and so why the hell would I care ... but I hate to see good engineering and statistical work (if that's the case) go down the tubes.

My own personal experience with roundabouts consists of two I go through with some regularity, one near the Thruway exit for Kingston, NY and the other on the edge of the village of Voorheesville, just west of Albany. The former replaced an old style large traffic circle and the latter replaced a 5 point intersection. In both cases, I've read, the roundabouts reduced the number and severity of accidents, as expected and matching results from other roundabouts. I have found the smaller roundabouts initially a little confusing, but ultimately much more orderly than traffic circles and multi-street intersections.

I'm hearing politically nuanced arguments in this discussion that really don't add to either side of the issue. Not to pick on Swimmy's last post, but I'm surprised anyone but the politicians cares whether the mayor touts one project or another as his accomplishment. Who becomes mayor doesn't matter. It never has. Especially in Utica!

I'd certainly have to agree the money could be better put elsewhere. Welcome to the 21st century of federal control.

[denise]

Watertown used grant money a few years ago to pretty up our Downtown (known as Public Square), which is set up like a roundabout. It is a clusterflock to end all clusterflocks. Traffic is always backed up and no one knows what lane they are suppose to be in because when they reconfigured things to add greenspace and wider cross walks, bottlenecks were created. Also, the number of parking spaces were reduced, and there wasn't enough spaces to begin with. They replaced the street lights with decorative ones that are rather dim, and to me, invites crime. All of this was suppose to make people want to be Downtown for shopping and such. Guess what? It didn't work. I used to use the Downtown YMCA but don't anymore because it is too much of a pain in the ass to get in there.

One thing we've learned up here is that once the City decides that they are going to do something, no amount of public hearings and people speaking out is going to change their minds. They just have the hearings because they have to.


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Square_%28Watertown,_New_York%29

[bobbbiez]

I would also like to see the money go into improving our streets but I'm not the one who can decide that and as I said before this grant money can not be transfered so that is a dead-end. If it has to take place I have to agree that this plan will improve traffic in this area which is a big clusterflock already and it will prevent further accidents.

[dgriffin]

CLICK to enlarge.


Well, the good folks of Watertown (including my in-laws) can say Public Square is a "roundabout," but with "seven of Watertown's main streets" (State, Wasington, Mill, Court, Arsenal, Franklin and I can't think of a seventh, unless they're counting Factory St.) "(including U.S. Route 11, New York State Route 3, New York State Route 12, and New York State Route 283) intersect at the square, making it a heavy traffic destination for motorist," (Wiki) it's a hell of a mess and always was one. Add to that mess the crossing traffic at each end of the square for motorists entering and you have a really confusing demolition derby. Certainly not a roundabout, (and the Wiki article doesn't call it a roundabout) no matter if the city calls it one. I think it was less confusing years ago when I first began visiting, before they began to paint lane markings. You just pointed your car where you wanted to go and if you were careful and didn't try to jump in front of everyone, you got there safely.

[Swimmy]

The attached has caused more than its fair share of horrific accidents. The worst ever was in my sophomore year of college. But, even when the SUNY students are home on break, that circle has caused several near-accident experiences for me. And last I read, when this was first proposed during the roefaro administration's infancy, many places were removing the roundabouts because of the added accidents, etc.

Attachments:

[Deleted]

There just so happens to be a large increase of traffic in the Oneida St and Jenny area. Holidays in the evening is terrible. Actually any day of the week is beginning to be bogged down in traffic. And that is not the traffic coming out of DD. This new direction for that area is fantastic and this Mayor is blessed to give his all to allow Utica to shine once again. Oh how I miss Mayor Hanna. What a great man he was.
We have to start cleaning up this city. That area is a drug traffic area and the mulls are easily noticed. Another traffic nightmare in the North Jenny St. That area will be so much improved once the new marina gets up and going.

I guess many of you don't get around Jenny St the traffic in the evening is flowing. I would so much like to see a trolly in that area. We need to get that area along with the Museum and the Stanley connected. If I was Mayor I would redirect the entire Downtown area and turn it into a park like setting. Can't wait for the Masters Plan.

[Deleted]

Jan 27, 2011 7:58:13 GMT -5 Swimmy said:

The reason he is pushing for this atrocity is even simpler than a re-election attempt, kracker. He will be able to immortalize himself as a mayor of progress for decades to come. That's his primary objective, re-election is an indirect bonus.

I agree, though, that the money being wasted on this would be better spent repaving the various potholes and failing traffic signals plaguing the area. But the mayor has already stated that he sees no potholes or failing traffic lights.

You just wait for when he gets re-elected. He will kick your ass. lol