I am a homeowner and resident of 5th Street between Ida and Jefferson. Ours is a short, quiet block, and my neighbors and I have worked hard to make it a true community — one where we know each other, look out for one another, and where our children can safely play outside. But two ongoing problems now threaten that safety.

Despite stop signs at both ends of our block, drivers routinely speed down our street at what appears to be 40 to 50 miles per hour. Ida is a one-way street, yet this does little to slow traffic. Our block is full of young children — playing tag, riding bikes, doing what kids do. There is currently nothing in place to slow drivers down, and it is terrifying to imagine what could happen.

On top of that, approximately two and a half years ago, a city water pipe burst in the middle of our street. The city shut off our water without warning, excavated two holes roughly twenty feet deep, and filled them with temporary asphalt. In the years since, no one has returned to make permanent repairs, and both patches are now visibly sinking into the roadway — a hazard in its own right, and one that is getting worse.

We are proud of our block and invested in its future. We simply want our street to be safe — for our children, our neighbors, and everyone who lives here.

We bought our home on Spring Ave just as it was being repaved. My partner and I were excited about getting a bike lane along with the repaved road, since we share one car and both commute by bike to work and into downtown. We’re disappointed the City didn't create any bike infrastructure while repaving. Drivers consistently go 10-15mph over the speed limit with no repercussions, making the roadway feel dangerous right next to our home. The sidewalk is in poor condition and is often obstructed by snow, ice, or parked cars. A bike lane (or shoulder) would help reduce speeding through our neighborhood, and it would provide a safer route for the many commuters, dog walkers, and children who need to walk and bike along Spring Ave.

I’ve been happy to call Spring Ave my home since purchasing a house in 2020. My wife and I quickly learned why the road was notorious for being a speedy thoroughfare.  I was glad Spring Ave received a much needed repaving last summer, but realized this was just going to make the situation worse. Even the construction crew would joke about how they were making a “racetrack” and already were dealing with people flying through the work zone. Our family and neighbors spend a lot of time outside. Between the children, wildlife and pedestrians walking, biking, and traveling up and down Spring Ave, I’m concerned for everyone’s safety. The sidewalk is frequently blocked by cars and in rough shape for those who need it the most. I see parents having to push their strollers in the road and folks needing to navigate their powered wheelchairs hugging the curb. Spring Ave is a vital connection between the eastside and downtown. Within less than a mile one can visit the Poestenkill, stop at the Springs, rest at the pocket park, take a hike up the narrows trail or play at the ball fields. The number of people traveling up and down seems to grow year over year. I’d like to see some bike lanes and continuous sidewalks so the kids and commuters can get to and from work, school, downtown and the park. I’d like to see cars slow down for walkers and wildlife. Spring Ave is wide enough to make this not only possible but a worthwhile investment into our community.

I was disappointed to see the "Uncle Sam Trail" disappear on 1st St from Canal Ave down to Polk St. There are still signs along the route touting it as the Uncle Sam Trail, but there is no striping to indicate the bike lane at all since it was repaved and then never repainted some years ago. The bike lane to the north is well striped & then it just dies when it hits the canal. In fact, the bike lane section is supposed to be bi-directional until Madison St. (this is shown on Google Street view in 2019) where a cyclist could come up from the Industrial Rd, then continue north on 1st St. I was happy to see the section on Burden Ave from Main St to Cross St was repainted when that section was repaved, since that is a much more heavily trafficked area. But, I am left wondering what could be done to reinstate the bike lane that was once there on 1st St & should still be in place?