Repaving Without Improving
Every year, streets in our cities are being repaved.
It's great that potholes are being fixed, but did you know the City of Albany and the City of Troy both have local ordinances that require them to make common-sense safety improvements when streets are being repaved?
-
Each year, Albany and Troy spend millions of dollars on roadway resurfacing. Both cities are required to make complete streets improvements while repaving (per their own local ordinances).
More often than not, Albany and Troy fail to implement simple cost-effective improvements, like updating striping plans. Sometimes streets aren’t re-striped at all, leaving communities without crosswalks for years even after repaving has been completed. -
Most transportation and streets issues boil down to three things:
A Lack of Political Will / Leadership
A Lack of Bandwidth
A Lack of Funding
Updating striping plans and additional lines on a street amount to the cost of a rounding error- which leaves us with political will and/or bandwidth.
-
After repaving, there’s an opportunity to update the striping, providing improvements like:
bike lanes
lane narrowing
crosswalks
parking adjustments
These are improvements that can be made affordably, just using paint after repaving. A repaved street is intended to last a long time, so it's essential to make these improvements at the right time, it could be another 10 or 20 years before there's another opportunity to make significant improvements to a street.
Adding a line or two to a street while it’s already being re-striped is an extremely affordable, cost-effective way to address issues like speeding and other traffic safety issues. -
Make Improvements While Repaving! - This is by far the most cost-effective way to improve traffic safety. Albany and Troy must take these opportunities to improve quality of life for residents, by adding bike lanes, shoulders, crosswalks, and more. Plus, it's required by their own ordinances.
Plan Ahead - Cities should think proactively about which streets need to be repaved and make a plan ahead of the paving season (yes, we're looking at you Troy).
Reference Existing Plans - Both communities have existing plans outlining where and how improvements should be made, these include the Albany's Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan and the Troy Bicycle Connections Plan, among others. These plans contain clear direction on what improvements should look like.
Design Improvements - City officials and their contractors can lean on resources like Capital Region Transportation Council’s Complete Streets Design Guide, NACTO's Urban Street Design Guide, and us here at Capital Streets!
Policy & Plans
Both Albany and Troy have complete streets ordinances, requiring improvements to street infrastructure for vulnerable road users, including people walking and biking, when repaving. In addition, both communities have plans that clearly lay out where and what improvements would benefit community members. There's also very clear guidance from the Capital Region Transportation Council on how to design complete streets infrastructure and the Vision Zero Safety Action Plan outlining safety issues on our region's roadways.
Albany
Troy
Past Failures
Albany
Forest Ave
“Residents had requested speed humps, sidewalks, and other traffic calming measures on Forest Avenue near Hackett Blvd because of heavy traffic and pedestrian use near Albany Academy. The City resurfaced Forest Ave in 2021 without adding any traffic calming measures or sidewalks as recommended by the City’s Complete Streets Design Manual. Residents have been told they need to wait until the street is resurfaced again to have infrastructure added to the roadway.” - Heather B., Albany Resident
Troy
Spring Ave
“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.” - Liz D., Spring Ave Resident
“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.” - Ian L. (Spring Ave. Resident)
