Route 15 Gets Center-line Rumble Strip
Shortly after the horrific accident on Route 15 in September 2003 that resulted in the deaths of three young people from Buffalo, a group of Lindley citizens formed the “Rt. 15 Push for Safety Committee”. Members of the committee were: Dee Hill, Harold Semple, Howie McFall, Dick Johnson, Terry Hill, Fran Woodring, Bill Canfield and Dick and Kitty Pierce and myself. We fervently believed that until Route 15 was updated into a four-lane, it must be made safer in the interim. Our objective was to work with the New York State Department of Transportation to immediately improve safety conditions. Our focus was to concentrate on installing safety enhancements that would get the attention of aggressive and inattentive drivers.
By November 4, 2003 NYSDOT agreed to install the following safety enhancements on Route 15:
• Damaged intersection warning signs with supplemental street names would be replaced.
• Delineators at all intersections would be inspected and repaired as necessary.
• State forces would install 13 “Do Not Pass” signs at appropriate locations to increase driver awareness.
• 12 “No Passing Zone” warning signs will be installed.
• NO PASSING ZONES were implemented in the spring of 2004 at these locations:
(a) No passing for northbound vehicles from approximately 1 mile north of Morgan Creek Road to Stowell Road intersection, approximately 1750 feet.
(b) No passing for northbound vehicles from approximately 400 feet north of Stowell Road to 850 feet north of Stowell Road.
Two Electronic Variable Message Signs were deployed near both entrances to the two-lane section of Route 15. The messages displayed are constantly changing.
NYSDOT lowered the speed limit from 45 MPH to 35 MPH in the area just north of the Pennsylvania border. A “Speed Zone Ahead” sign as installed.
To add emphasis to the “end of expressway” symbol signs at the four to two-lane transition on the north end of Rt.15, NYSDOT added high intensity orange diamonds above both signs.
The Troop “E” Traffic Sgt. and NYSDOT agreed to designate the two lane segment of Route 15 as one of their “High Enforcement Corridors” that increased police enforcement between the Pennsylvania line and the four lane expressway.
The “Center-line Rumble Strip” requested by the committee was installed today. “Shoulder Rumble Strips” are to be installed next year.
The Route 15 Push for Safety Committee will re-convene in the weeks ahead to mount a massive letter writing campaign to major newspapers across New York State requesting voters to VOTE YES on the New York State Transportation Bond Act in November that includes 79 million dollars for the completion of Route 15 from the Pennsylvania border to Presho.
By November 4, 2003 NYSDOT agreed to install the following safety enhancements on Route 15:
• Damaged intersection warning signs with supplemental street names would be replaced.
• Delineators at all intersections would be inspected and repaired as necessary.
• State forces would install 13 “Do Not Pass” signs at appropriate locations to increase driver awareness.
• 12 “No Passing Zone” warning signs will be installed.
• NO PASSING ZONES were implemented in the spring of 2004 at these locations:
(a) No passing for northbound vehicles from approximately 1 mile north of Morgan Creek Road to Stowell Road intersection, approximately 1750 feet.
(b) No passing for northbound vehicles from approximately 400 feet north of Stowell Road to 850 feet north of Stowell Road.
Two Electronic Variable Message Signs were deployed near both entrances to the two-lane section of Route 15. The messages displayed are constantly changing.
NYSDOT lowered the speed limit from 45 MPH to 35 MPH in the area just north of the Pennsylvania border. A “Speed Zone Ahead” sign as installed.
To add emphasis to the “end of expressway” symbol signs at the four to two-lane transition on the north end of Rt.15, NYSDOT added high intensity orange diamonds above both signs.
The Troop “E” Traffic Sgt. and NYSDOT agreed to designate the two lane segment of Route 15 as one of their “High Enforcement Corridors” that increased police enforcement between the Pennsylvania line and the four lane expressway.
The “Center-line Rumble Strip” requested by the committee was installed today. “Shoulder Rumble Strips” are to be installed next year.
The Route 15 Push for Safety Committee will re-convene in the weeks ahead to mount a massive letter writing campaign to major newspapers across New York State requesting voters to VOTE YES on the New York State Transportation Bond Act in November that includes 79 million dollars for the completion of Route 15 from the Pennsylvania border to Presho.
posted by sallyann | 1:02 PM
9 Comments:
So glad to see the center rumble strips in place and done so quickly. Makes one wonder why this wasn't done years ago. If 1 life is spared, the time and effort is well worth the money invested. Anxiously await the shoulder strips.
Hats off to Sally and the Rt. 15 Saftey Committee,the NYS DOT, NYS State Police and to Randy Kuhl for their efforts. The safety improvements on RT. 15 have been a long time coming.
Am glad to hear the Safety Committee is going to push the publicity about approving the Bond Issue -Otherwise, we all know the money to finish Rt. 15(I 99)will be siphoned off to do NY City and area highway projects. Sally, please keep your readers and the public informed as to the Safety Committee's campaign.
To all of you on this committee:
You may never know how many people will hear these rumble strips and suddenly become aware. You may never hear of all those "lead foots" that spot a new sign and slow down. Job well done! Thank you. All you have done will be worth it!
Look at the traffic backed up in this photo. Definite evidence that a 4 lane highway is needed. Great photo , Sally.
Sally: The NYS DOT is not going to be putting in shoulder "Rumble Strips" as they felt that they would be too intimating, given the center line"Rumble Strip". Right Bill? Incidently, this is the first time center line strips have ben utilized in New York state. This information came about as a result of our (Bill Canfield And I) attendance at the Area Wide Transportation Committee meetings in Corning. Also the town has to get behind the up-coming bond issue, to be voted on in November, if we want the four lane conversion to be done. There is not enough money in the Federal government offerings to complete the job.
Understand our Albany Rep ""Winner"" is coming to town for a "town meeting" Good time for all those folks who would like to see Rt.15 finished to meet with him and to voice your concerns. Let's have a huge turn-out and let him know how desperate we are to have the money approved...
Anyone have the date of his visit???
Senator George Winner is scheduled to hold a Town Meeting in Lindley September 29th from Noon to 12:30 p.m. I'll post his visit on the main page of the blog a few days before his arrival.
And I agree, everyone interested in getting Route 15 completed should attend the meeting to ask Winner what we can do to get the Transportation Bond Act passed this November.
Too bad it took lives to force DOT to put the rumble strips in place.
May they prove so successful that they are used in other places. Pa. uses them all over the place.
Beauracracies are always a day late and a dollar behind. But the important fact is we've got rumble strips...the first two-lane in New York State to have them. I pray they work.
Hey Sally, Not sure how many people read the Archives,but we have been observing the traffic since the rumble strips were put into place. As we travel between Presho and Lawrenceville, it is interesting to watch those cussed tractor trailers when they wander over the center lane. Doesn't take them long to get back on their own side of the highway. Watched one today-first he was over the center lane :then over onto the shoulder. Better onto the shoulder than into an on coming auto. So judging from what we are seeing, the strips are doing their job-even though it may only keeping the Tractor Trailer drivers in line. Would love to hear and see their first experience with the strips.
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