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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20260098 56 Duplainville Rd Regeneron Sketch Plan Response to City Traffic Comments 04.22.2026 April 21, 2026 Ms. Kathryn Serra, P.E. C.T. Male Associates 50 Century Hill Drive Latham, NY, 12110 RE: Response to Comments #1, Regeneron Saratoga Campus, 56 Duplainville Road, City of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County, New York; CM Project No. R252023.00 Dear Ms. Serra: Creighton Manning Engineering & Surveying, PLLC (CM) has reviewed the traffic related comments provided in an email dated March 5, 2026 from the Principal Planner for the City of Saratoga Springs (Michael Tuller) to the Saratoga County Department of Public Works (DPW) associated with proposed Regeneron Saratoga Campus. The email is included under Attachment A and a summary of the traffic related comments and our responses are provided below. Comment #1 – Looking at the existing conditions along Geyser Road and the proximity of the elementary school, we are concerned the morning peak traffic on the corridor will be impacted at the Geyser Road (CR 43) & Cady Hill Blvd (CR 44) intersection which serves as the primary entrance for the industrial park vehicular ingress/egress demands. The presentation by the consultants to the city referenced approximately 750 employees accessing the Regeneron site during the morning shift. If you couple these new (proposed) vehicle trips with the current businesses in the industrial park and the average peak traffic generated at the school along Geyser Road, we are of the opinion traffic will be negatively impacted in the mornings based on the volume projections and the existing design of the Geyser Road @ Cady Hill Blvd intersection serving the industrial park businesses. The traffic assessment done by Creighton Manning references the Geyser Road at Cady Hill Blvd intersection in their study area, indicating 270 vehicle trips in the AM peak hour at full build-out. Traffic counters placed in January 2026 showed just under 10,000 vehicles per day traveling along Geyser Road, which is arguably a busy two-lane roadway serving both residential and industrial truck traffic (pre-Regeneron) mobility demands. The study references a potential queuing issue with traffic leaving the industrial park at the Adams Road/Cady Hill Blvd/Old County Road intersection, where their only recommendation was a "do not block" sign on Cady Hill Blvd. The study had limited information regarding the operational performance of eastbound Geyser Road at Cady Hill Blvd, where the elementary school and neighboring subdivisions will likely impact peak hour traffic on Geyser Road. The assessment documentation references Quad Graphics and Regeneron traffic as very comparable in trip generation impacts. Depending on where these new employees will live in the region, it is difficult to assume similar impacts with Quad Graphics also taking place when Regeneron opens the facility to 750 employees for their morning shift. We are asking for consideration from the county to potentially install a dedicated left-turn lane on Geyser Road eastbound to access Cady Hill Blvd at the existing traffic signal location. This traffic signal would need to be upgraded to allow for protected left-turn movements onto Cady Hill Blvd. The proposed left-turn lane would be approximately 150 long on Geyser Road with appropriate striping tapers. Response: It is noted that the regional distribution of traffic was based on a review of existing AM and PM peak hour traffic conditions observed at the Grande Industrial Park. In addition, a review of SEQR documentation for Quad Graphics indicates that the regional distribution used for that assessment was based on existing employee locations. It is logical to assume that future Regeneron employees will continue to commute to work similar to the various businesses located within the industrial park. Ms. Kathryn Serra April 21, 2026 Page 2 of 4 A review of No-Build conditions indicates that there will be approximately 39 AM and 13 PM left-turns on the eastbound Geyser Road approach to Cady Hill Boulevard. Regeneron will add 36 AM and 2 PM peak hour trips for a total of 75 AM and 15 PM peak hour left-turn vehicles since it is anticipated that approximately 15% of site related traffic will originate from areas west and southwest of the site (see Build volumes on Figure 1). A review of the level of service analysis indicates that the shared left-turn/through lane on the eastbound Geyser Road approach will operate at LOS A under No-Build conditions during both peak hours and that it will continue to operate similarly with an increase in average vehicle delay of approximately three (3) seconds or less after re-occupancy of the Quad Graphics building by Regeneron. In addition, a queuing evaluation was conducted at the signalized Geyser Road/Cady Hill Boulevard intersection. Table 1 summarizes average queues on the eastbound Geyser Road approach provided from the SimTraffic simulation model. Table 1 – Average Queuing Summary (in feet) Intersection Available Storage AM Peak Hour PM Peak Hour Existing No-Build Build Existing No-Build Build Geyser Road/Cady Hill Boulevard Geyser Road EB LT 1,000* 67 85 173 75 84 103 EB = Eastbound intersection approach - LT = Shared Left-turn/Through movement * = Distance to Casino Drive The SimTraffic model indicates that under No-Build conditions, the eastbound Geyser Road approach will experience average vehicle queues of approximately four vehicles (85-feet and 84-feet) during the AM and PM peak hours. After re-occupancy of the site by Regeneron, the eastbound Geyser Road approach will experience average vehicle queues of approximately seven vehicles (173-feet) and five vehicles (103 feet) during the AM and PM peak hours, respectively. The queue summary indicates that the increase in average vehicle queues during the AM and PM peak hours will not impact adjacent intersections or driveways. It is noted that the Geyser Road Elementary School is located over 1,500- feet west of this intersection. In addition, a review left-turn lane guidelines provided in A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, 2018 published by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) indicates that exclusive left-turn lanes at signalized intersections should be considered where left-turn volumes exceed 100 vehicles/hour. While an exclusive left-turn lane can be provided for lower volume conditions, a review of future volumes, level of service, and queuing conditions that will exist after development of the Regeneron facility does not support the construction of a separate eastbound left-turn lane on Geyser Road and replacement of the traffic signal. Comment #2 – Additionally, we are concerned the intersection of Adams Road at Rowland Street (CR 47) will be negatively impacted with employee trips accessing Regeneron to avoid the traffic congestion at the Cady Hill Blvd @ Geyser Road intersection. The level of service projections in the study for this residential- scale T-intersection in Milton reference, "no additional mitigation is recommended" with Regeneron’s inclusion. Figure 1 – Build Traffic Volumes Ms. Kathryn Serra April 21, 2026 Page 3 of 4 Response: A review of existing conditions and SEQR documentation for Quad Graphics indicates that approximately 10% of site generated traffic would access the site from the northwest using Adams Road. If employees originating south and west of the site use Adams Road to access the new Regeneron facility, they would add over 0.5 miles to their commute in order to avoid the Geyser Road/Cady Hill Boulevard intersection. The response to Comment #1 indicates that delay on the eastbound approach of this signalized intersection will increase by approximately three seconds or less during the peak hours; therefore, it is not anticipated that an employee would add 0.5 miles to their commute to avoid this intersection; it will remain a shorter commute to sit through the Geyser Road/Cady Hill intersection than to drive out of the way to avoid it. A review of the traffic assignment figure provided in the original Traffic Assessment letter indicates that Regeneron will add approximately 27 AM peak hour trips and 32 PM peak hour trips to the Rowland Street/Adams Road intersection. The level of service analysis indicates that this intersection will continue to operate similarly through Build conditions with an increase in delay less than one second on any approach. This conclusion was supported by the analysis provided in the traffic assessment provided by the City’s Designated Engineer (LaBella). Comment #3 – We are also contemplating a multi-use trail on Adams Road (city roadway) and the short section of Cady Hill Blvd at the intersection with Old County Road. The new trail would connect with the existing multi-use trail loop on the city-owned parcel adjoining the intersection. The trail alignment would extend on the northern side of Adams Road and terminate into the existing trail/sidewalk paralleling Marsel Road into the visitor parking area of Regeneron. If allowable, set the trail alignment off the roadway (10+ feet away - close to the existing chain link fence to avoid established trees and roadway drainage improvement designs. I have attached the sketch drawings for your review. Response: A review of the trail proposed by the City of Saratoga Springs shown in red on Figure 2 would add an approximate 1,750-foot trail along Adams Road and Cady Hill Boulevard. The trail would essentially terminate at the opening of the proposed Regeneron facility and there is a concern that general trail users would inadvertently get to the end of this long segment and have to turn around. The existing Marsel Road trail to Adams Road is proposed to be removed as Regeneron will be a secure facility. In its place, a sidewalk along Marcel Road passing through a security check point is proposed. The Applicant is proposing an alternative connection could provide similar access to the Geyer Road multi-use trail through Geyser Park. This proposed connection would use the existing trail loop system in the park to minimize driveway/roadway crossings, reduce the impact on existing vegetation, and minimize the distance a general trail users would need to backtrack if they end up at the entrance of the secure facility. It is recommended that a crosswalk be provided on the east side of Marsel Drive to cross Adams Road and that a short multi-use path be provided on the south side of Adams Road to the northwest corner of Geyser Park. The new path would then extend along the west side of the tennis courts and intersect the Geyser Park trail system which would provide access to the surrounding multi- use trail. The Applicant is prepared to construct this connection along with the necessary signing and striping for the Adams Road crosswalk. Ms. Kathryn Serra April 21, 2026 Page 4 of 4 Please call our office if you have any questions or comments regarding the above analysis. Respectfully submitted, Creighton Manning Engineering & Surveying, PLLC Mark Nadolny Ken W. Wersted, P.E., PTOE Associate Associate Z:\2025\R252023.00 - CTMale-Regeneron Saratoga\Working Docs\Reports\2026-04-21_Response to City Comments-20260305_R252023.00.docx Existing Geyser Park Trail Loop Existing Geyser Road Multi-Use Trail City of Saratoga Springs Proposal Regeneron Proposal Figure 2 – Multi-Use Path Connection Attachment A City of Saratoga Springs Principal Planner Comments 1 Mark D. Nadolny From:Mark D. Nadolny Sent:Tuesday, April 21, 2026 3:36 PM To:Mark D. Nadolny Subject:FW: Regeneron - Intersection Improvement Geyser Road @ Cady Hill Road Attachments:doc06856620260304115614.pdf From: Michael Tuller Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2026 10:42 AM To: ccooke@saratogacountyny.gov; gball@saratogacountyny.gov Cc: klambert@saratogacountyny.gov; Susan Barden <Susan.Barden@saratoga-springs.org> Subject: FW: Regeneron - Intersection Improvement Geyser Road @ Cady Hill Road Chad and Gregory, Susan Barden at Saratoga Springs OPED asked that I send this concept design (attached) for your review regarding the Regeneron project that is occupying the Quad Graphics site in the WJ Grande Industrial Park. Factoring the county roadways impacted by this pharmaceutical company operations, we wanted to share our perspective on potential traffic impacts for the project as it proceeds through the Planning Board and state reviews. Looking at the existing conditions along Geyser Road and the proximity of the elementary school, we are concerned the morning peak traffic on the corridor will be impacted at the Geyser Road (CR 43) & Cady Hill Blvd (CR 44) intersection which serves as the primary entrance for the industrial park vehicular ingress/egress demands. The presentation by the consultants to the city referenced approximately 750 employees accessing the Regeneron site during the morning shift. If you couple these new (proposed) vehicle trips with the current businesses in the industrial park and the average peak traffic generated at the school along Geyser Road, we are of the opinion traffic will be negatively impacted in the mornings based on the volume projections and the existing design of the Geyser Road @ Cady Hill Blvd intersection serving the industrial park businesses. The traffic assessment done by Creighton Manning references the Geyser Road at Cady Hill Blvd intersection in their study area, indicating 270 vehicle trips in the AM peak hour at full build-out. Traffic counters placed in January 2026 showed just under 10,000 vehicles per day traveling along Geyser Road, which is arguably a busy two-lane roadway serving both residential and industrial truck traffic (pre-Regeneron) mobility demands. The study references a potential queuing issue with traffic leaving the industrial park at the Adams Road/Cady Hill Blvd/Old County Road intersection, where their only recommendation was a "do not block" sign on Cady Hill Blvd. The study had limited information regarding the operational performance of eastbound Geyser Road at Cady Hill Blvd, where the elementary school and neighboring subdivisions will likely impact peak hour traffic on Geyser Road. The assessment documentation references Quad Graphics and Regeneron traffic as very comparable in trip generation impacts. Depending on where these new employees will live in the region, it is difficult to assume similar impacts with Quad Graphics also taking place when Regeneron opens the facility to 750 employees for their morning shift. Additionally, we are concerned the intersection of Adams Road at Rowland Street (CR 47) will be negatively impacted with employee trips accessing Regeneron to avoid the traffic congestion at the Cady Hill Blvd @ Geyser Road intersection. The level of service projections in the study for this residential-scale T-intersection in Milton reference, "no additional mitigation is recommended" with Regeneron’s inclusion. We are asking for consideration from the county to potentially install a dedicated left-turn lane on Geyser Road eastbound to access Cady Hill Blvd at the existing traffic signal location. This traffic signal would need to be upgraded to allow for protected left-turn movements onto Cady Hill Blvd. The proposed left-turn lane would be approximately 150 long on Geyser Road with appropriate striping tapers. We are also contemplating a multi-use trail on Adams Road (city 2 roadway) and the short section of Cady Hill Blvd at the intersection with Old County Road. The new trail would connect with the existing multi-use trail loop on the city-owned parcel adjoining the intersection. The trail alignment would extend on the northern side of Adams Road and terminate into the existing trail/sidewalk paralleling Marsel Road into the visitor parking area of Regeneron. If allowable, set the trail alignment off the roadway (10+ feet away - close to the existing chain link fence) to avoid established trees and roadway drainage improvement designs. I have attached the sketch drawings for your review. If you do not have a copy of the traffic assessment study performed by Creighton Manning, please let me know and I will route to you. For Your Review & Consideration, Mike Tuller, AICP Principal Planner Saratoga Springs OPED