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Claverack: Plan routes trucks to us
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| A large tractor-trailer truck turns west onto Columbia Street as a propane delivery truck turns east as they both follow the truck routes through Hudson at the intersection of North Third St. Monday. Robert Ragaini/Hudson-Catskill Newspapers |
By Jamie Larson
A new plan to reroute large commercial trucks around Hudson, announced at a curbside rally last Thursday by the Hudson Bottom Line Party, has received the support of numerous city officials and residents. The plan has also raised concerns among some Claverack residents who would see the trucks temporarily rerouted through their community instead of Hudson.
Bottom Line Party Founder and Community Organizer Linda Mussmann said the issue of the truck route through the city has been ignored by state government for too long and the time to solve the problem is now.
At the rally, held at the corner of Third and Columbia streets, a busy intersection for drive-through trucking, Mussmann announced a two-part plan.
The first phase of the proposal would immediately create a temporary alternative route for trucks coming into Columbia County over the Rip Van Winkle Bridge headed for Routes 9, 66 and 9H north of the city. Currently the trucks come through Hudson north via Third Street, turn east on Columbia Street and then fan out on a number of residential and business district streets on their way out of the city.
The second phase is to renew calls for the state Department of Transportation to create a permanent bypass around Hudson. Mussmann said that with federal stimulus money currently available for large scale municipal projects, now is the time to reach out to politicians at all levels of government for help to make the bypass a reality.
Assemblyman Marcus Molinaro, RCI-Red Hook, responded to an e-mail from Mussmann Friday, offering his help on the issue. Molinaro wrote in an e-mail message that he shares Hudsonians’ concern and would contact DOT Chief Traffic Engineer Mike Cotton immediately.
Opponents of the current route argue that aside from the constant noise and air pollution spewed from the 18 wheelers and their increasing numbers, size and speed pose a danger to residents’ safety and property. Opponents also said they believe that the extreme weight of the rumbling trucks is causing repeated damage to Hudson’s aging infrastructure, costing the city and residents increasing amounts of money in repairs.
Many of the trucks deliver goods to the large retail stores on Fairview Avenue in Greenport and the Bottom Line Party and Hudson residents are concerned that almost-completed Greenport Commons shopping complex, which contains a Super Walmart and a Lowe’s hardware store, will increase the traffic even more.
The Bottom Line Party, with the confirmed support of Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera, and aldermen from the First and Fifth wards, proposed that the alternative route take trucks coming over the bridge south-east on Routes 23 and 9 through Buckley’s Corner, then north on Route 9H/23. Trucks headed for Route 9 would then travel back north-west on Route 23B to Route 66. This route would be reversed for trucks headed back to the bridge.
Numerous Claverack residents who live along the proposed temporary route have already contacted The Register-Star to voice concern that the proposed solution will only dump the problem on their already congested roads.
Mussmann said the negative effect of the truck route on Hudson, due to its relatively dense population and narrow streets, is much worse than any potential temporary inconvenience to Claverack. She said she understands their concern since their possible inconvenience has been a Hudson way of life for decades. “The DOT is responsible for this problem,” Mussmann said. “Everyone has to get involved. This is an interim solution.”
Mussmann said the current call for action is helped by the fact it is an election year but addressing the issue in earnest has been a long time coming. “There’s no time like the present,” she said. “People are listening hard right now. There are people in power who are eager to stay there. You have to get the truck route out of Hudson and it has to happen sooner rather then later.”
Bottom Line Party Founder and Community Organizer Linda Mussmann said the issue of the truck route through the city has been ignored by state government for too long and the time to solve the problem is now.
At the rally, held at the corner of Third and Columbia streets, a busy intersection for drive-through trucking, Mussmann announced a two-part plan.
The first phase of the proposal would immediately create a temporary alternative route for trucks coming into Columbia County over the Rip Van Winkle Bridge headed for Routes 9, 66 and 9H north of the city. Currently the trucks come through Hudson north via Third Street, turn east on Columbia Street and then fan out on a number of residential and business district streets on their way out of the city.
The second phase is to renew calls for the state Department of Transportation to create a permanent bypass around Hudson. Mussmann said that with federal stimulus money currently available for large scale municipal projects, now is the time to reach out to politicians at all levels of government for help to make the bypass a reality.
Assemblyman Marcus Molinaro, RCI-Red Hook, responded to an e-mail from Mussmann Friday, offering his help on the issue. Molinaro wrote in an e-mail message that he shares Hudsonians’ concern and would contact DOT Chief Traffic Engineer Mike Cotton immediately.
Opponents of the current route argue that aside from the constant noise and air pollution spewed from the 18 wheelers and their increasing numbers, size and speed pose a danger to residents’ safety and property. Opponents also said they believe that the extreme weight of the rumbling trucks is causing repeated damage to Hudson’s aging infrastructure, costing the city and residents increasing amounts of money in repairs.
Many of the trucks deliver goods to the large retail stores on Fairview Avenue in Greenport and the Bottom Line Party and Hudson residents are concerned that almost-completed Greenport Commons shopping complex, which contains a Super Walmart and a Lowe’s hardware store, will increase the traffic even more.
The Bottom Line Party, with the confirmed support of Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera, and aldermen from the First and Fifth wards, proposed that the alternative route take trucks coming over the bridge south-east on Routes 23 and 9 through Buckley’s Corner, then north on Route 9H/23. Trucks headed for Route 9 would then travel back north-west on Route 23B to Route 66. This route would be reversed for trucks headed back to the bridge.
Numerous Claverack residents who live along the proposed temporary route have already contacted The Register-Star to voice concern that the proposed solution will only dump the problem on their already congested roads.
Mussmann said the negative effect of the truck route on Hudson, due to its relatively dense population and narrow streets, is much worse than any potential temporary inconvenience to Claverack. She said she understands their concern since their possible inconvenience has been a Hudson way of life for decades. “The DOT is responsible for this problem,” Mussmann said. “Everyone has to get involved. This is an interim solution.”
Mussmann said the current call for action is helped by the fact it is an election year but addressing the issue in earnest has been a long time coming. “There’s no time like the present,” she said. “People are listening hard right now. There are people in power who are eager to stay there. You have to get the truck route out of Hudson and it has to happen sooner rather then later.”
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