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Meeting examines truck alternatives
By Jamie Larson
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
Local and state officials held a public meeting Monday at City Hall to discuss the future of the commercial truck route through Hudson. Over the past two weeks a call to reroute the trucks out of Hudson’s narrow, old streets has been renewed by the Bottom Line Party.
Bottom Line founder Linda Mussmann and Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera led the meeting at City Hall, saying that while discussions to move truck through-traffic out of the city has been undertaken before with little success, the increased traffic over the past few years has made the issue even more relevant. Scalera said that the large trucks increasing size and speed negatively impact the city’s safety, environment and infrastructure.
Those who oppose the current route have suggested that the trucks be rerouted around Hudson to the wider roads running through the town of Claverack on their way between the shopping centers on Fairview Avenue in Greenport and the Rip Van Winkle Bridge.
Claverack Supervisor James Keegan also attended the meeting and said his town sees its fair share of truck traffic already, and his constituents would oppose Hudson releasing its burden on them. He also said that while Hudson complains that the heavy trucks damage the city’s aging infrastructure, Claverack put new pipes under their roads five years ago and wouldn’t want to see added wear on them.
The meeting also hosted two state Department of Transportation officials, State Director of Transportation Operations David Woodin and Region 8 Traffic Engineer Michael Cotton. While the two were unaware that Monday’s meeting was going to be public they spoke directly as to what the DOT could and could not offer to help address the long standing problem.
The DOT officials immediately divulged two pieces of information that some local officials were unaware of. Woodin said that trucks over a certain height, width and/or weight are already not permitted in the city, and the Hudson Police Department has the authority to issue tickets to trucks over 13.2 feet in height or eight feet wide. The exact weight limit trucks cannot exceed has not been substantiated yet.
Scalera said he will have HPD learn the rules and begin ticketing trucks too large for the city. The Mayor was also surprised to learn that it is, and has always been, within the city’s rights to redraw the truck route within it’s borders. Scalera says officials will immediately begin looking within the city for a less inconvenient route than 3rd and Columbia streets.
Woodin said rerouting the trucks completely out of the city needs to be a community issue. In his experience with similar issues around the state he said that Hudson, Claverack and Greenport need to work together to find a mutually acceptable new route. Woodin said the DOT does not mediate these kinds of discussions but that finding an impartial person or an organization that could work with the municipalities on the issue could be helpful.
The meeting was also attended by state Assemblyman Marcus Molinaro, (RCI-127th), and representatives from the offices of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gilibrand (D), and U.S. Rep. Scott Murphy (D-20th). Molinaro called for continued smaller, more private and direct conversations between officials and towns to hash out the details of any potential compromise. Molinaro also asked what sort of avenues the DOT has available to fund new, or improve existing, bypasses around Hudson.
Cotton and Woodin said that realistically the days of the state or federal government funding large road infrastructure projects are over. While there is stimulus money available now, the amount needed for the creation of a brand new truck route is probably unrealistic. Woodin said that the DOT spends all their money trying to maintain existing roads.
The group, which included Columbia County Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development Ken Flood, committed to continue the discussion and contemplated funding a comprehensive traffic study of the truck route. The DOT officials said while they are willing to consult with the city and towns impacted by the route, the municipalities must take the lead in finding a solution.
Bottom Line founder Linda Mussmann and Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera led the meeting at City Hall, saying that while discussions to move truck through-traffic out of the city has been undertaken before with little success, the increased traffic over the past few years has made the issue even more relevant. Scalera said that the large trucks increasing size and speed negatively impact the city’s safety, environment and infrastructure.
Those who oppose the current route have suggested that the trucks be rerouted around Hudson to the wider roads running through the town of Claverack on their way between the shopping centers on Fairview Avenue in Greenport and the Rip Van Winkle Bridge.
Claverack Supervisor James Keegan also attended the meeting and said his town sees its fair share of truck traffic already, and his constituents would oppose Hudson releasing its burden on them. He also said that while Hudson complains that the heavy trucks damage the city’s aging infrastructure, Claverack put new pipes under their roads five years ago and wouldn’t want to see added wear on them.
The meeting also hosted two state Department of Transportation officials, State Director of Transportation Operations David Woodin and Region 8 Traffic Engineer Michael Cotton. While the two were unaware that Monday’s meeting was going to be public they spoke directly as to what the DOT could and could not offer to help address the long standing problem.
The DOT officials immediately divulged two pieces of information that some local officials were unaware of. Woodin said that trucks over a certain height, width and/or weight are already not permitted in the city, and the Hudson Police Department has the authority to issue tickets to trucks over 13.2 feet in height or eight feet wide. The exact weight limit trucks cannot exceed has not been substantiated yet.
Scalera said he will have HPD learn the rules and begin ticketing trucks too large for the city. The Mayor was also surprised to learn that it is, and has always been, within the city’s rights to redraw the truck route within it’s borders. Scalera says officials will immediately begin looking within the city for a less inconvenient route than 3rd and Columbia streets.
Woodin said rerouting the trucks completely out of the city needs to be a community issue. In his experience with similar issues around the state he said that Hudson, Claverack and Greenport need to work together to find a mutually acceptable new route. Woodin said the DOT does not mediate these kinds of discussions but that finding an impartial person or an organization that could work with the municipalities on the issue could be helpful.
The meeting was also attended by state Assemblyman Marcus Molinaro, (RCI-127th), and representatives from the offices of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gilibrand (D), and U.S. Rep. Scott Murphy (D-20th). Molinaro called for continued smaller, more private and direct conversations between officials and towns to hash out the details of any potential compromise. Molinaro also asked what sort of avenues the DOT has available to fund new, or improve existing, bypasses around Hudson.
Cotton and Woodin said that realistically the days of the state or federal government funding large road infrastructure projects are over. While there is stimulus money available now, the amount needed for the creation of a brand new truck route is probably unrealistic. Woodin said that the DOT spends all their money trying to maintain existing roads.
The group, which included Columbia County Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development Ken Flood, committed to continue the discussion and contemplated funding a comprehensive traffic study of the truck route. The DOT officials said while they are willing to consult with the city and towns impacted by the route, the municipalities must take the lead in finding a solution.
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