RT 2 (CONGRESS & FERRY)
On October 2nd, Troy’s NY 2 (Congress and Ferry Streets) Corridor Improvement Project website was updated without fanfare. The draft design report for the project was quietly uploaded and the public comment period is set to end on November 2nd, 2025.
This project will impact our entire community. Troy cannot afford to repeat past mistakes and miss this opportunity to improve Downtown. We need you to speak up, to help change its trajectory before it is too late.
The lack of transparency and outreach to those who will be most impacted is extremely concerning. It is critical community members have their voices heard.
The community deserves a design that will bring major positive impacts to help revitalize Downtown. Mayor Mantello has demonstrated her ability to do just this to address issues in other areas, like at Federal & River. Unfortunately, the designs for Congress and Ferry drastically lack this kind of vision.
The City’s design, “Alternative 1A”, puts drivers speeding through Downtown before our residents and local businesses, without justification or explanation.
The report is lengthy (490 pages) and our team is continuing to review it in more detail, but there are clear, obvious concerns about how the project will impact Downtown Troy (see “RAG” analysis).
TAKE ACTION
Things to keep in mind as you comment and contact…
Make it clear that you are against the City’s “preferred alternative” (Alternative 1A)
Express how other, previously shared designs, like Alternative 1B and Alternative 1A Modified better achieve the project’s goals
Talk about the environmental impact (tree removal, dangerous design, speeding, etc)
Share your experience on the corridor and how the project will impact you (optional)
Feel free to CC us at info@capitalstreets.org on any emails for support!
Make your voice heard by taking action below to provide public comment, and to contact the Mayor’s Office directly as well as your local and state representatives.
McDonaldJ@nyassembly.gov
ashby@nysenate.gov
5184554474
5183712751
Example: I’m concerned the City’s preferred alternative, Alternative 1A, will not bring positive changes to the corridor or meet the project objectives. The absence of traffic calming elements and number of street trees slated for removal is extremely concerning. Alternative 1B and 1A Modified do a better job of creating safer streets on Congress and Ferry. Regardless of which design direction the City goes in, including traffic calming elements like curb extensions, narrower travel lanes, and preserving mature trees is crucial to improving this corridor.
Your voice matters, and sharing your thoughts through these channels will make a difference!
“RAG” (RED, AMBER, GREEN) ANALYSIS OF CITY’S “PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE”
RED - Aspects of the project that will clearly have negative impacts on Downtown Troy
Loss of On-Street Parking - net loss of 64 parking spaces on the corridor (45%)
There are approximately 140 parking spaces on the corridor today
The City’s plans show 76 total parking spaces
Replacing Mature Street Trees - removal of 79 street trees on the corridor (59%)
There are 133 existing trees, almost all Honeylocust (gleditsia triacanthos), one of the most common urban street trees in the northeast. While a small number of street trees need to be replaced due to accessibility issues, Honeylocust do not generally cause sidewalk issues unless the soil is overly compacted (this is an issue for the vast majority of street trees)
The project budget lists $327,000 for “Landscaping”, with no other landscaping changes outlined
Bad Design Will Create Conflict
The project’s wide, unprotected bike lane design will result in illegal parking. While not everyone bikes, this will result in dangerous traffic conflicts, strain on law enforcement, and frustration and conflict amongst community members.
AMBER - Aspects of the project containing poor design elements that should be improved to better meet the project’s purpose, need, and objectives
Bike lanes have no physical protection
Absence/lack of traffic calming and speed controls - the result will be higher speeds, more noise, and more dangerous crashes along the corridor
Excessive lane width (12 ft) for an urban corridor, which will contribute to higher speeds
Bike lanes without physical protection - Won’t feel safe for vulnerable road users and will be utilized less than protected bike lanes
Excessively large corners radii - this results in larger crossing distances for people walking and allows vehicles to take turns at higher speeds
No pedestrian improvements to areas with well documented issues, like Congress & 8th
Eastbound bicycle traffic is sent underground into the Ferry Street tunnel, where many residents have voiced concerns about safety, visibility, noise, maintenance, and grade
This route is also very expensive to build - a conservative estimate puts this at $250,000 making this most expensive bike lane in the Capital Region.
GREEN - These aspects are positive changes - *denotes aspects required by the project’s funding award
Replacing the ramps at the Congress St Bridge with a signalized intersection
*Reduction of travel lanes (2 to 1) on both Congress St and Ferry St
*New bike lanes on Congress and Ferry (though not protected)
*Addressing accessibility issues by replacing damaged sidewalks and other non-compliant infrastructure
BOTTOM LINE - This project has a price tag of more than $17.5 million, but it’s still unclear if this project will even bring a net benefit to Troy. The lack of public engagement, sound design decisions, removal of mature trees and loss of parking are extremely concerning. The City of Troy must rethink this design to better align with the needs and feedback of the community.
With very high double parking pressure on Congress and Ferry today, the combination of removing a high number of parking spaces, wide and unprotected bike lane design will result in illegal parking. This will result in dangerous traffic conflicts, strain on law enforcement, and frustration and conflict amongst community members.
A concept for the Capital Region’s most expensive bike lane (conservatively, our estimates put this at $250k). The plan sends eastbound bicycle traffic underground into the Ferry Street tunnel, where many residents have voiced concerns about safety. Visibility, noise, maintenance, and grade. The construction of the elevated bike lane is also a very expensive measure, while the project design neglects to make important improvements elsewhere.
FAQ
Q: The project team has been ignoring public feedback. Why does my voice matter now?
A: The draft design report process involves other government agencies, and while it’s not totally democratic, public input plays a major role in assessing these projects.
Q: Don’t you guys like bike lanes?
A: Generally, yes, but design matters. We need bike lanes that will be safe and useful. We are concerned the designs from Creighton Manning will be dangerous and used for parking.
Q: Is the project still moving forward despite changes to federal funding?
A: The project is reliant on federal funds, but based on the City's most recent update on 10/2, it appears it is moving forward. Honestly, who could be sure at this point?
Q: Okay, you don’t like the design, but what would you like?
A: Concept 1A is weaker than 1B and 1A Modified, in our opinion, but it doesn’t have to be so bad. Altering 1A to include protected bike lanes, curb extensions, and replacing only select trees would go a really long way.
We have been advocating for a parking-protected bike lane design, which would provide protected facilities for cyclists, but also be easy to maintain and plow. On the 33 ft of curb to curb width on most of the corridor, here’s how it could look:
8 ft parking lane, 11 ft travel lane, an 8 ft parking lane, 3 ft buffer, 3 ft* bike lane
*The recommended minimum bike lane width is 4 ft, but with a buffer, this is an excellent tradeoff to accommodate making the bike lane protected and still easily navigable
We see this as a win-win, by creating a protected bike lane and increasing the amount of on-street parking on the corridor.
Q: What about the Congress Street Bridge improvements, to connect people outside of cars to Watervliet?
A: Despite over $2 million in funding secured by Congressman Tonko, the City has yet to share any information about utilizing those funds. It does not appear any of the previously studied improvements for a shared use path on the bridge are being included.