HomeMy WebLinkAbout20241018 NYS Rt 29 Station Lane Site Plan Review Complete Streets Advisory Board Letter 06.01.2026
Ken Grey, Chair
Ted Orosz, Co-Chair
Suzanne Jagoda
Lynn Keating
Kent Destefanis
Lindley Hickox
Peter Martin
Peter Faith; P.E.
CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS
C OMPLETE S TREETS A DVISORY B OARD
❖
City Hall - 474 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
Tel: 518-587-3550 fax: 518-580-9480
www.saratoga-springs.org
Dear Members of the Planning Board,
The Complete Streets Advisory Board appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Station Park development. We recognize
its significance as a major transit-oriented project at the western gateway to the City and believe it presents an opportunity to
improve multimodal connections, safety, and neighborhood connectivity.
Based on the materials presented, the development is projected to house approximate ly 500–600 residents and generate an
estimated 1,200 daily vehicle trips. Given this scale, we have concerns regarding vehicular access , safety and circulation along
NY Route 29. We are aware that NYSDOT may seek to restrict left turns from the site. Such restrictions would transfer traffic
pressures and operational challenges to the intersections of Route 29 and West Avenue, and subsequently West Avenue and
Station Lane. We encourage continued coordination with NYSDOT .
We note that CDTA bus service no longer operates along Route 29 in this location, reducing the need for bus stops on Route
29. However, we recommend that a pair of bus stops be incorporated along Station Lane so transit users can access the
development and station area without needing to walk through or around the station.
The site plan appears to depict a roadway connection on the eastern side of the development. We request clarification on the
purpose and future connectivity of this roadway, including whether it is intended for emergency acc ess only or whether inter-
parcel vehicular circulation is contemplated. Similarly, while portions of bicycle infrastructure appear throughout the plans, we
found it difficult to determine the overall network configuration. We request detail regarding the l ocation, width, and operation
of all bicycle facilities, including which facilities are intended to be one -way versus two-way, and, what they will link to.
Given the size and density of the proposal, safe pedestrian crossings are essential. It is also rea sonable to anticipate
redevelopment proposals of similar scale may emerge on nearby underutilized parcels, including the storage facility propertie s
on the opposite side of the railroad corridor, as storage uses are transitional.
The Board supports an easement location for a possible pedestrian and bicycle bridge spanning the railroad right-of-way. This
could provide inter-parcel access and link the Greenbelt Trail. Improvements along the rail segment could include an on-grade
connection using Storage Lane/Eastman Lane and Church Street/Sunnyside Gardens Roads. Further, a trail alignment on the
Amtrak Station side of the rail corridor would have wonderful connectivity. A trail ‘leg’ that follows Washington Street’s slope
toward the proposed entrance to Station Park for an on-grade crossing could be a solution.
Finally, the applicant’s traffic study relied on data collected in March 2023, which may not reflect typical or peak seasonal
traffic conditions and does not appear to include seasonal traffic adjustments. The study did not collect traffic data at the
existing driveway serving Intrada and the Post Office on Route 29, despite the current site plan directing left-turning vehicles
to this point. The analysis did not evaluate operations at this driveway, even though it would experience increased traffic under
the proposed restrictions. Restricting left turns into the project driveway on Route 29 may be difficult to enforce and could
encourage unsafe or illegal turning. A better approach is to work with NYSDOT to design a full-access driveway with
appropriate improvements such as turn lanes or signalization. Since the study was completed in 2024, the applicant should
coordinate with City planning staff to account for any newer nearby developments and commit to supporting recommendations
from the ongoing CRTC West Avenue/Train Station Study.
Thank you for considering our collective feedback and working toward a safer and more connected network for all users.
Sincerely,
The Complete Streets Advisory Board