State officials visit to discuss roundabout

Brian Farkas Editor-in-Chief

Three representatives from the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) came to campus on Monday, April 28 to discuss the upcoming construction on Raymond Avenue and the installation of a roundabout at the Collegeview Avenue intersection. DOT representatives Charlotte Nesbit, Scott Geiger and Jason Hilton spoke to a group of about 30 members of the Vassar community. Only three students attended.

The DOT representatives began by describing the results of its June 2007 traffic study, performed following the completion of Phase I of the Raymond Avenue reconstruction, which saw the installation of one roundabout on College Avenue and at Main Gate.

“The goal of the project—to reduce speeds and delays while encouraging a safer, more pedestrian-friendly corridor—has been met,” stated the 17-page study, citing reduction in traffic volume.

Nesbit, the project manager, reviewed statistics from the study. “This has really been such a success story,” she said, noting that delays on Raymond Avenue have decreased by 56 percent since last summer. “More importantly, accidents have decreased by 51.4 percent, which is even more than the DOT predicted before undertaking this project.”

After going over statistics, Nesbit and Geiger went through a PowerPoint presentation, in which they showed five different before-and-after renderings of the road.

The crowd’s reaction to the results of Phase I and the plans for Phase II was largely positive.

“I feel so much safer,” said Science Librarian Flora Grabowska. “Raymond is just so much lighter and more open. As a pedestrian, I feel better about walking at night, and as a driver, I feel significantly less likely to get into an accident.”

Grabowska hoped that Phase II would continue to “improve the look, ease and safety of the area” for automobiles.

Still, a few in the crowd expressed concerns about smaller aspects of Phase I, particularly lighting.

“The lights can be so bright that they actually blur my vision,” said one man in the crowd. “You guys should really think about different lighting going up to the westbound arterial.”

Although others in the audience fervently agreed, the DOT representatives explained that the lights had to be kept at a certain level of brightness in order to meet regulations.

Even so, the Arlington Business Improvement District (ABID) will contribute money to special lampposts that will be able to hold flower baskets, Christmas lights and banners. ABID will also install a four-faced clock in the center of the Collegeview roundabout.

Vice President for Finance and Administration Elizabeth Eismeier invited the DOT representatives to campus. “We were really happy they could be here,” she said following the event.

“DOT came a couple years ago before construction began on Phase I of the Raymond Avenue project and were able to clear some things up for members of our community. It’s so important to have open discussion.”