CHAPTER 6 SUMMARY OF COMMENTS RECEIVED 6.1 Summary … · Fonda Connector – Fulton & Montgomery...

Fonda Connector – Fulton & Montgomery Counties PIN 2650.36

FINAL Feasibility Study Page 6-1 January 2016

CHAPTER 6 – SUMMARY OF COMMENTS RECEIVED

6.1 Summary of Comments Received (as of 03/30/15)

The following table is a consolidation of comments received from the Public as of March 30, 2015.

No. Date Name Section Comment Source

1 9/9/14 Stella Gittle Study Overview Website

Comment Why are you only showing maps of the Town of Mohawk when the village of Fultonville is involved in the Town of Glen?

Response The Study Area Map has been updated to include all Towns, Villages and Counties included in the Study Area.

2 9/10/14 Wayne T. DeMallie N/A Public Info Meeting

Comment Come from 5’s Ent 27 to west to before fort hunter north to Tribes Hill Stoner Trail North to RT 67 to past Fulton County Airport. Diverting on road to RT 30A to the left and one road to 29 to Saratoga right hand just past north of airport. This was a design that was considered years ago using Stoner Trail North.

Response Your comment has been reviewed. Thank you for your input.

3 9/11/14 No Name Provided Documents & Information Website

Comment When will you post the potential connector road routes?

Response Potential connector routes have been posted to the project website.

4 9/12/14 Katherine Allen Public Comments Website

Comment

We were told at the public meeting that a more readable map of potential routes was available at this website, but not so. The map given to us at the meeting is completely useless in identifying possible routes. I'm very upset that this incredibly vital information is so obscure. Also, I have never attended a meeting in which there was no question and answer period. The public certainly is invested in this project, and have every right to ask questions at a "public" meeting. I would like to hear from you regarding these issues, otherwise I plan to call my congressman.

Response A high resolution map depicting the potential connector road alternative routes has been uploaded to the project website. The next public meeting will be an open format in which the project team will field public comments and questions.

5 9/12/14 Nolan J. Marciniec About Website

Comment

I attended the informational meeting at FMCC on 09/10. I find it difficult to believe that traffic patterns and potential problems were not considered when the Industrial Park was first proposed and built. Why were no accommodations for the influx in truck traffic made at that time? The presentation did not convince me that a new connector route was needed. At this point, there is no restoring the quality of life for the Village of Fonda after so many years during which traffic was given the priority over people. Unless I can be persuaded otherwise, perhaps the best solution would be to somehow mitigate the effect of truck traffic on the existing route. I don't think that the volume of truck traffic warrants the considerable expenditure and the destruction of an invaluable rural environment along any of the proposed routes.

Response Your comment has been reviewed. Thank you for your input. A traffic analysis for potential improvements along the existing route (NY Route 30A) and the effects of these potential improvements is included in the Feasibility Study Report.

6 9/15/2014 Bob The Study Team Website

Comment Where are the proposed paths? The map does not show any



Where are the proposed paths? I don’t see any on the map. I heard there were 11 possible paths. Found map


7 9/18/2014 Frederick Hastings Meetings & Public

Outreach Website

Comment This whole study is a waste of time and shame on Fulton county for pushing this even after it was taken off the table by the Montgomery county board.


8 9/27/2014 B. Conwall Public Comments Website

Comment

This study looks like a child playing with crayons and a map. Why is the most logical route with the least amount of impact not considered? Crossing the river right in line with Main Street and then improving route 30A? It would be a straight route going through an existing commercial roadway and actually having less residential impact. And why would you even consider intruding on a school district so blatantly? It looks Iike there has been no regard for the citizens of Montgomery county, especially the residents of Fonda.

Really ill conceived and ill planned. Whoever put this together, MJ has no concept of the value of land and community. This is farcical and hopefully NYS sees through this charade.

Response Your comment has been reviewed. Thank you for your input. Any proposed alignments will be required to evaluate the affect of social and environmental impacts during preliminary design, subsequent to the feasibility study.

9 9/28/2014 Kaitlin Ahern About Website

Comment

Please don't cut through farmland for this project. There is nothing good about taking farmland away from the good people who work it and provide local food sources in order to support corporate America. At worst the roadways now are a bit inconvenient for tractor trailers and there is traffic at times. The ramifications of this project are much more serious--it will destroy the foundation of the county and the lifestyle of many of its citizens (not to mention how ugly the county will become when it's covered in asphalt and subject to increased noise pollution).


10 10/1/14 Patrick Clear Public Comments Website

Comment

The Town of Mohawk is currently in the process of updating its comprehensive plan, expected to be completed in 2015. The public survey conducted as part of the last comprehensive plan had several questions relating to the issue of the current feasibility study:

Question #8 asked residents what the most important current aspects of the town are. Tied for first with 92% were Overall Attractiveness and Rural/Small town character

Question #9 asked what the residents felt would be most important over the next 10 years Top 3 answers were #1 maintain and protect the natural environment, #2 protect farmland, #3 maintain rural character.

Question #14 what does the town need most. The runaway number one answer is Infrastructure: water and sewer, improved roads

**The survey question was for condition of current roads, not new highways.

**The current town planning board has been discussing the issue of infrastructure and has identified an area of special concern for protection, conservation and preservation for future possible reservoir development and/or reservoir protection zones. All the connector routes being considered east of Route 30A pass through this area.

Response Your comment has been reviewed. Thank you for your input. Future coordination with Montgomery County will be required. Any proposed alignments will be required to evaluate the affect of social and environmental impacts during



preliminary design, subsequent to the feasibility study.


Comment

The Fultonville business district along Riverside Drive would be devastated by the construction of any connector road. The current businesses located along Riverside Drive that cater to the trucks currently using exit 28 would be forced to close when the same businesses open on the Fulton County end of the connector.

It would be foolish to believe that similar hotel, restaurant, truck repair and service businesses wouldn’t be built in or near the Johnstown Industrial Park. Loss of those businesses would financially ruin the community of Fultonville.

Response Truck traffic will have access to use the existing facilities along Riverside Drive for all connector road options presented in the Feasibility Study.


Comment

There is a growing population of Amish in and around the Town of Mohawk and a significant increase in the number of Amish working in and passing through the town. Amish are increasingly working on farms throughout the town, east into Amsterdam, and north into Johnstown and Gloversville. Amish families are also increasingly traveling into Johnstown and Gloversville to shop at local stores and sell their goods in the communities. The connector highway will pose a serious danger to the Amish. Without stoplights or controlled intersections the connector highway will pose a serious danger to their simple horse and buggy mode of transportation.



Comment

Several routes are identified near the Fonda Fultonville School property. These routes pose a serious health and safety risk to all the students in the district. These routes will lead to an industrial park. In addition to the risk of dangerous spills of toxic chemicals from trucks traveling these routes there are also the dangers of air pollution from the high volume of trucks and the harmful effects of noise on children.

The location of the school is a common air inversion area. Heavy fog and smoke from local home fireplaces can frequently be observed accumulating in the area south of the ridge along Old Trail Road and west of Switzer Hill Road. The geography of this spot creates a pocket that traps airborne particles and would pose a serious health risk to the students and residents when the pollution from the trucks accumulates in this pocket.

Sound from heavy traffic can have a dangerous effect on the learning ability of students. I would suggest you consult the Cornell University study on this topic. Information on the study can be found at:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/05/010523072445.htm

and the full study can be obtained from Cornell University. Most import to note in regard to the routes near the school are the study findings of:

"We also found that girls exposed to the traffic noise become less motivated, presumably from the sense of helplessness that can develop from noise they couldn't control," says Gary Evans, an international expert on environmental stress, such as noise, crowding and air pollution.

The study adds evidence to Evans' previous research showing that noise can have serious health, learning and task-motivation effects in children and adults exposed to chronic noise.

"The findings suggest that children living in noisier areas are subject to stress, which may have serious health implications," the researchers conclude. They intend to monitor the Austrian children and the noise levels to which they are exposed and assess any long-term health effects.

Response The potential for air and noise pollution has been analyzed and presented in the Feasibility Study Report. Any proposed alignments will be required to evaluate the affect of social and environmental impacts during preliminary design, subsequent to the feasibility study.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/05/010523072445.htm



Comment

It is common practice for farmers to rent/lease and own several parcels within a community. In our case parts of our farm at 899 Old Trail Road are leased to two additional farmers in the Town of Mohawk. Of most concern would be the safe access to our property during hay season. The large equipment and fully loaded hay wagons would have serious difficulty and pose a serious safety risk when crossing the planned connector road due to their large size and slow speed.

Response Access to farm crossings is expected to be provided thru driveway access locations where required.


Comment

Several of the routes being considered would require new bridges. The current bridge on 30A has caused repeated floods due to debris and ice backups. The addition of a new bridge would significantly increase the risk of more serious flooding. The villages of Fonda and Fultonville and the residents, farmers and businesses west of the proposed bridges have suffered enough flooding.

Response

A preliminary hydraulic analysis and summary have been included in the Feasibility Study report. The potential locations of any new bridge structures will follow NYS Thruway Canal design requirements as well as the NYS Department of Transportation Bridge Manual requirements. Any potential structures that cross the Mohawk River shall be designed to have no upstream hydraulic affect on the NY Route 30A existing bridge. Reported issues with the existing hydraulic opening, debris and ice back-ups for the existing bridge would need to be analyzed in future design phases. The Feasibility Study does not propose to alter the existing NY Route 30A bridge.


Comment

The Mohawk River Watershed Coalition of Conservation Districts plan to release the final Mohawk River Watershed Management Plan in October.

The coalition identified the following seven specific goals to help realize the vision: 1. Protect and restore the quality and ecological function of water resources 2. Protect and enhance natural hydrologic processes 3. Promote flood hazard risk reduction and enhanced flood resilience 4. Protect, restore, and enhance fish and wildlife habitat 5. Revitalize communities and waterfronts, and adopt smart growth land practices 6. Promote agriculture and other working landscapes 7. Increase watershed awareness New York State Department of Environmental Conservation also has a Mohawk River Basin Steering Committee. The committee’s action agenda lists five goals: Goal 1: Fish, Wildlife and Habitats Goal 2: Water Quality Goal 3: Flood Hazard Risk Reduction Goal 4: Community Planning and Revitalization Goal 5: Working Landscapes, Land Use and Open Space

The proposed connector road is in conflict with both these plans.

Response Any proposed alignments will be required to evaluate the affect of social and environmental impacts during preliminary design, subsequent to the feasibility study.


Comment

According to USGS and natural gas industry maps the entire area shown for the proposed connector road sits over Utica Shale. The USGS report and industry reports also both state the gas reserves in the Utica Shale gas play far exceed those of the Marcellus Shale gas play. Utica shale is already being tapped in Ohio. Mineral rights will need to be purchased for all properties taken for the connector project.





Comment

Residents in nearly the entire area being studied for the connector road get their water from wells. This road will lead to an industrial park and it is safe to believe that trucks traveling this road will be caring dangerous and toxic chemicals for industries in the industrial park. There would be a significant risk of well contamination if a spill was to occur. Extending Fulton County’s waterlines to service all residents, present and future, along the connector route should be part of the project plan.



Comment

I have concerns about the accident data. I don’t believe the comparison to the state averages is a fair view of the area. As a 15 year resident of the Town of Mohawk I have never seen an accident in the community. I do not believe the truck traffic is responsible for the higher accident rates. I believe the true reason for the higher number of accidents reported is the result of extremely high traffic events in the community, especially the annual Fonda Fair, the weekly races at Fonda Speedway and special events at the speedway. All three are high alcohol events. Accidents in our community are more likely special event related not truck related.

Response Your comment has been reviewed. Thank you for your input. An accident analysis has been included in the Feasibility Study Report. The accident numbers and types have been provided by the NYSDOT and documented in the report.


Comment

Fulton and Montgomery Counties need to do an inventory of current and future proposed industrial parks. The report done in 2011 is already outdated. Fulton County has received an additional property, the former Tryon Detention Center, as a new industrial park. Montgomery County has a large complex available in the former Beechnut complex in Canajoharie and has a possible location where the recent casino was planned for in Amsterdam.

The current Johnstown Industrial Park that the connector project is planned for already has several vacant lots, abandoned buildings, broken roads and crumbling signs. Due to the poor maintenance of the facility by Fulton County and the high failure rates of businesses within the park it is reasonable to forecast that by time the Fonda Connector could be built the Johnstown Industrial Park would be closed.

Given the high number of sites available at other current and potential (casino site) industrial parks in the area with better thruway access it may be cheaper to relocate the few remaining businesses in the Johnstown Industrial Park.


21 10/1/14 Martin Smith Public Comments Website

Comment

I attended the Sept 10 meeting, where comments were not allowed. I would like to point out a glaring omission from an engineering perspective. This omission is rather important as the study so far has yielded acceptable traffic delays in the route30A/5 corridor, The proposed new route should be engineered to a years in service objective. Without this identifiable objective, i.e... a 10 year or 75 year road... cost-effective statements/project objectives are meaningless and renders the phrase meaningless. I would suggest an analysis regarding the probable impact high speed rail would have on Fonda. It is not too difficult to conclude that the south side of Main Street, Fonda, may have to go...perhaps for space and safety issues. Those old structures would not last too long with high speed rail traffic... and buying up those old houses and relocating businesses, would not be that difficult and then swing up 334 next to the old railroad bed ....which appears to be garnering some interest for a rebuild of the spur.

Response Your comment has been reviewed. Thank you for your input. A traffic analysis has been included in the Feasibility Study Report for both the existing and proposed conditions.

22 10/1/14 Nancy A. Collins N/A Mail

Comment As a resident of the Town of Mohawk (Montgomery County) with two acres of residential property on the north side of the Old Trail Road, directly south of the proposed expansion of the Rt. 30-A Johnstown Industrial Park and in close proximity (approx. 500 ft.) of the western-most proposed alternate connector highway (Hickory Hill to Venture Dr.), I


FINAL Feasibility Study -6 January 2016

would appreciate your consideration of the information below which touches on a range of topics related to the proposed project study.

I found the aerial maps (both normal and high resolution) displayed on the Connector Website not useful in showcasing the details of the privately owned properties in the Town of Mohawk (compared to the quality of what one sees on Google Maps). The Connector website clearly depict the air-handling unites atop the Johnstown Industrial Park buildings and cars/trucks in parking lots; however; directly below the Fulton County line, views of residences impacted by the proposed alternate routes in Montgomery County are somewhat of a blur. There are many beautiful homes, properties, rural acreage and wetlands-their importance and value should not be diminished in a “fuzzy map.”

Below are my comments with the proposed project and possible alternatives:

Current and Future Negative Impact Upon Area Residents

Blasting (Former/Future) – My home has been shaken several times in the past years due to blasting during new construction at the existing Industrial Park site on Rt. 30-A. As a result, we have filed complaints which were followed-up by those in-charge making visits to my home to inspect cracks in our poured foundation and to the bricks of our 10’ fireplace dividing the living room/kitchen.

Diesel Fumes/Noise Pollution – On certain days there is constant “Beep-Beep” of trucks backing-up within the park. Diesel fumes make it impossible to open windows or sit outdoors when the wind carries the fumes from idling trucks at the park to my yard. Expansion of the existing park and highways through Montgomery County will only exacerbate health issues (asthma) and noise pollution.

Run-off/Contaminates – According to Project Website maps, the area has an abundance of wetlands and springs – some of which feed our wells. Further park expansion and highway construction increase the potential for contamination of water sources and existing wells.

Opportunity for Collaboration and Cost-Effective Alternative(s)

Having grown-up, currently employed and owning a second property in Fulton County, I support regional growth and opportunities for collaboration between both county governments resulting in outcomes having a positive impact upon the residents of the region. Therefore, I would support:

Curtailing further expansion of the existing 30-A Industrial Park and truck route(s) which has already made a significant negative impact upon the infrastructure from Main St., Fonda, to Opportunity Drive and reduced the quality of life for residents in its path. Shovel-ready business sites currently exist in other industrial/business parks in the county.

Promote a collaborative effort between the two counties to study the feasibility of developing a “regional” industrial/business park at the proposed Amsterdam Casino site which significantly reduces the scope of the Connector Project by eliminating SMART-Waters issues and cost-prohibitive construction of bridges and cross-county highways to the existing 30-A park. The Amsterdam site is readily accessible to the NYS Thruway Exit and likely offers little-to-no disruption to residents and agricultural lands.

Having the ability to successfully coordinate and plan a project of this magnitude, avoiding a major blunder (such as we’ve experienced with the design of the Amsterdam Mall), and to put politics aside is a virtue.

The words of a retired Urologist I knew sums it up: “Do it once, do it right.”

Response

A high resolution map depicting the potential connector road routes is uploaded to the project website. The map was generated with the highest resolution imagery made available by NYS, and its resolution is a function of that imagery.

Blasting (Former/Future): Any blasting (if required) is expected to follow all current blasting procedures. Blasting procedures and monitoring programs will be established in the future design phases if the project moves forward and if required.

Diesel Fumes/Noise Pollution: A noise analysis has been included in the Feasibility Study report. Additional noise and air studies will be required to be progressed during the preliminary design phases. These studies will determine whether there are noise or air quality impacts from the proposed project.

Run-off/Contaminates: Any alternative that might be progressed further in design will follow NYSDEC requirements for collection treatment of stormwater and pollutants. During preliminary and detailed design, the project will be



required to meet the requirements for both Water Quality and Quantity treatment design.

23 10/2/14 N/A Study Overview Website

Comment Have the property owners, whose land these routes go through been contacted?

Response At this phase in the process, property owners have not been contacted. If the project moves forward to the next phase (preliminary and detailed design), the NYSDOT ROW process will be followed and affected property owners will be contacted and coordinated with.

24 10/2/14 Jim Clauson Public Comments Website

Comment

I found your presentation at FMCC very thorough. There was an important environmental fact you missed and probably could not perceive: what happens in extreme weather, (which we have had a lot of recently)?

For example, in heavy rains SWITZER HILL ROAD floods badly. Water pours down the road itself as it overflows the small ditches. In winter this quickly turns to ice.

I cannot as easily speak for other routes.

Response Your comment has been reviewed. Thank you for your input. Water quality and quantity controls will be required to be designed for any proposed alignment during the future design phases. The project will be required to demonstrate that it does not create any downstream flooding.


Comment

The Town of Mohawk is over a shale bed. The notes below regarding construction on or in shale are from geology.com

Engineering Properties of Shale Soils Shales and the soils derived from them are some of the most troublesome materials to build upon. They are subject to changes in volume and competence that generally make them unreliable construction substrates. Expansive Soils The clay minerals in some shale-derived soils have the ability to absorb and release large amounts of water. This change in moisture content is usually accompanied by a change in volume which can be as much as several percent. These materials are called "expansive soils". When these soils become wet they swell and when they dry out they shrink. Buildings, roads, utility lines or other structures placed upon or within these materials can be weakened or damaged by the forces and motion of volume change. Expansive soils are one of the most common causes of foundation damage to buildings in the United States. Slope Stability Shale is the rock most often associated with landslides. Weathering transforms the shale into a clay-rich soil which normally has a very low shear strength - especially when wet. When these low-strength materials are wet and on a steep hillside they can slowly or rapidly move down slope. Overloading or excavation by humans will often trigger failure.


26 10/7/14 Erin Breglia Public Comments Website

Comment Is this connector going to be used for an increase of fracked gas transport?

Response New York State does not allow fracking, therefore the connector road will not be used for an increase of fracked gas transport.

27 10/15/14 Bob Documents & Information Website

Comment Thank you for providing this information. Martin and Kathleen Smith's article in today’s paper.10/15/14 really says it all.

http://geology.com/




28 10/16/14 J. Sluti Documents & Information Website

Comment

I was just told about this horrific idea the other day. I live on Old Trail Road (in between Rt. 5 and Albany Bush Rd.), so I checked out the map with the proposed routes. I was SHOCKED to see that one of the proposed routes goes through a corn field right between my house and my neighbor's house. We bought this house on 6 acres so that we could live peacefully in the country. We have 4 children, all whom are home all day as homeschooled students. When we bought this house, the real estate market was still on the "high" end. Even though we have put quite a bit of money into the house, the chances of selling it for what we own, much less what we paid, is probably out of the question. I absolutely WILL NOT want to live here if there is a truck route next to my house. What are you thinking? We will be forced to move as we will not tolerate living in the country with a truck route right next to our house. PLEASE do not do this!!!!


29 10/17/14 No Name Provided Study Overview Website

Comment Sounds like a great idea. Let's hear more


30 10/17/14 Kathleen Smith About Website

Comment Why does this site say "there are no public comments available to display." on the front page when there are several pages of comments? This site is terrible. One would think for $492.000 (the cost for this study) you would be able to do this better

Response All public comments that have been received to date have been documented and uploaded to the project website under the tab “Public Comments”.

31 10/17/14 S. Carbone Public Comments Website

Comment

The truck traffic would best be alleviated by moving the industrial park to the Glen Industrial Park from Johnstown. The bulk of the car traffic would still be a problem on Rt. 30A all the way past Gloversville, which your plan doesn't address. As a Fonda resident who has been aggravated for the past 15 years, I say keep it out from Fonda! I also say forget about using Eminent Domain! This is a democracy not an imperial regime. While you are at it, reopen the railroad crossings, because their closure is killing a quarter of the Village of Fonda. You are 20 years too late and now the open spaces have been developed. Was this map actually a Jackson Pollock contest?


32 10/19/14 Concerned Citizen Documents & Information Website

Comment

Simply why not get Wal-Mart to move closer to the Fultonville exit where there is a park located already? The connector would not be needed and Wal-Mart can be provided tax incentives to move. Why hasn't the county legislators gotten off their backside and become a little progressive instead of reactive? Typical stupidity that waste money for something not needed or one that has a better solution.


33 10/23/14 No Name Provided The Study Team Website

Comment

The Fonda Connector is a HUGE mistake that is being forced down the throats of the good people of the Town of Mohawk. The Backers of this think nothing of proposing to take away people's homes, farmland, and our ability to make an honest living and live in peace. Every person living in or by one of the possible routes is living in total fear. A diagnosis of cancer would be less threatening! The Backers think nothing of destroying working farms or evicting families from the homes they have lived in for generations. My family has farmed our land for nearly a century - and YOU WANT TO PUT US OUT OF BUSINESS? If I remember correctly, when the Park was built, one of the largest farms in the town was destroyed because of problems created by the construction. Now the Backers see nothing wrong



with destroying many more farms - cutting them in half, taking the most fertile fields, making some fields inaccessible, and putting farmers out of business. The beautiful, quiet, rural landscape would be covered by ugly asphalt and roaring trucks. The best route is the existing one. Don't many of the trucks come up 30-A from Rt.20 and I-88, thus traveling on a narrower and more winding stretch of 30-A than is between Fonda and the Park? If there is money that has to be spent, use it to repair existing roads and bridges in the area. The Park was ill placed and showed little thought and now has a number of vacant buildings. Isn't it interesting that several of the longest routes go into Fulton County, thus providing the Backers with the ability to build a connector to their next project - Tryon. Let's build another partially filled industrial park!

Montgomery County is and has long been a quiet, RURAL area that is noted for the farming industry. We need to keep it that way and the Backers of this mistake need to realize it. It's time to stop pandering to special interests. How long is that "Special Interest" going to be around, with or without the connector?


34 11/3/14 Patrick Clear Documents & Information Website

Comment

A single connector route to only the Johnstown Industrial Park is insufficient to meet the desperate needs of Fulton County. There are two other poorly located industrial parks (Crossroads and Tryon) lacking needed highway and rail access in Fulton County, both in Johnstown and close to the Montgomery County border. Spurs from the Fonda Connector routes being considered would provide desperately needed access to both these sites. Location and sizing of any potential route must accommodate access to all three locations.


35 11/3/14 Patrick Clear Documents & Information Website

Comment Fulton County has wanted industrial rail service to the Johnstown Industrial Park for years. Consideration should be given to finding a connector route corridor sufficient in size to accommodate both an industrial highway and an industrial rail line parallel to it.


36 11/5/14 Kathleen Smith Public Comments Website

Comment

Our letter to the editor was referenced in the comments on this site. For those who were not able to read it, the text follows.

You have been seeing the signs throughout Fonda and the Town of Mohawk “Save Our Town - Stop the Fonda Connector Project.” Do you know what they are about?

Fulton County, under the guise of “regional” planning, has commissioned a study to create a Fonda bypass. (It’s a bypass, not a connector, Fonda is already “connected” to the Johnstown Park.) They want to funnel truck traffic to the Johnstown Industrial Park and the new park they want to build adjacent to it. They have come up with 11 scenarios that cut through Montgomery County - some passing through and destroying productive farmland and working farms, some cutting the Villages of Fonda and Fultonville in half, some going dangerously close to the school and Little League Park and some bypassing the Villages of Fonda and Fultonville altogether. Most would require new bridges to be built and one uses the current bridge over the river and railroad tracks. All would send traffic up a steep hill and would cost a ton of money.

Many people think this new road would only affect a handful of farmers and some farmland. However, we believe the bypass would kill the villages of Fonda and Fultonville. Once the traffic (and it won’t just be trucks) gets off the Thruway and onto the bypass to Johnstown, the businesses in the villages would surely dry up. No traffic stopping at truck stops, restaurants, gas stations, convenience stores, sandwich shops, etc. No more tax base, no more sales tax dollars, no more local businesses.

Also, many say if you oppose this bypass you are against progress and jobs. This couldn’t be farther than the truth! As reported in Fulton County’s own engineering study, the current route is working. (We know this to be true because we never have to sit through more than one stop light in Fonda.) We believe future progress needs to come in the form of



expanding and building industrial parks and business sites along the Thruway corridor in Montgomery County. It has much better locations. It has 3 exits off the Thruway and has the railroad, barge canal, Route 5 and Route 5S and is an easy drive to the Capital District. Most importantly, developing in Montgomery County doesn’t require bypassing anything.

Be informed; don’t let the Fulton County “regional” planners jam this through. Go to www.fondaconnector.com to see the maps that show what could happen to Montgomery County if this bypass is built.

Martin & Kathleen Smith

Fonda, NY


37 11/10/14 Karen Public Comments Website

Comment I heard there are 10 possible routes being studied. Is this true and is there a map showing these routes?

Response A high resolution map depicting the potential connector road alternative routes has been uploaded to the project website.


Comment

All the proposed routes pass through residential zones in the Town of Mohawk. An industrial highway through these districts would render the properties in the route corridor unlivable and unmarketable as residential properties. It would be in the best financial interest of the impacted property owners for the town to rezone the entire connector corridor as manufacturing/industrial/commercial. What accommodations will be made for highway access and traffic flow control (traffic lights or roundabouts) if/when the corridor is rezoned?


39 10/30/14 No Name Provided Public Comments Mail

Comment

What nerve! How dare you propose construction in another county? Who made you King Mraz? Keep your nose in Fulton County, not destroying the lives of the good people of Montgomery County. Drop this selfish idea. Any one of the possible routes destroy the Town. How would you like it if the proposed route went through your property? Do you even care what happens to the properties in Montgomery County? I don’t think so—just as long as your selfish interests are taken care of. Back off, Jim. You have no authority in or over Montgomery County.



Comment

Take the farmland, Mr. Mraz, and may you find your plate empty when you sit down for dinner! Do you realize the number of farms you’ll put out of business with these proposals – or don’t you care? Do you have a conscience? Montgomery County has been noted for the farming industry and you care nothing about destroying it. Farmland is irreplaceable – you are not. The price to pay for any of these routes is too high. None of us want it and the sooner you realize that, the better off we’ll all be.



Comment

We can’t believe our land was targeted for one of the proposed routes! We feel violated! We were never told! How can you do this and sleep at night? Why weren’t the effected property owners notified? You are pitting homeowners against farm owners – people who have been friends for years. No one wants the road in their yard or field. No one wants the road, period. Fulton County and Jim Mraz need to rethink this terrible idea. Mraz has big ideas with little success. What good is a road that leads to another abandoned park?





Comment Everyone I know lived in the Town of Mohawk because it’s rural, beautiful, and peaceful. Most can look out their kitchen window and see the beautiful countryside. We don’t want the Town covered in asphalt and cement. Stop this crazy road idea. We don’t need it and we don’t want it. Shouldn’t that be more important?



Comment

This is in response to the comments reported in the 10/1 Recorder article regarding the Fonda connector. MJ Engineering told the reported the proposed routes looked for the least impact to “minimize the number of residential and commercial properties… and maintain properties that have existing structures”. The “least impact” would be just the opposite. Structures and commercial buildings can be moved or rebuilt. How do you replace farmland? Who will feed the people if you take all the farmland? You take part of a farm’s land and that farmer is done! Farmers are hard working business men and women and most of these proposed routes would put us out of business and ruin the countryside. Many of these farms have been in families for generations. Isn’t it interesting that most of the proposals run through farms rather than more populated areas? Again – buildings can be rebuilt, but farmland will be lost forever. Isn’t it a fact that prior to construction, access roads, parking, etc., must be approved before building can start? Access roads were OK then – why not now? Does it matter that Montgomery County wants nothing to do with the Mraz Mandate? Fulton County made another mistake in placing the Industrial Park and now Mraz wants the good people of Montgomery County to pay for it. No thanks. This idea should be scrapped and Fulton County should replace Mraz before he does more damage.

From one of many frustrated farm families.



Comment

To: MJ Engineering

The Fonda connector is a HUGE mistake that is being forced down the throats of the good people of the Town of Mohawk. The Backers (Fulton County and Jim Mraz) of this think nothing of proposing to take away people’s homes, farmland, and our ability to make an honest living and live in peace. Every person living in or by one of the possible routes is living in total fear. A diagnosis of cancer would be less threatening. The Backers think nothing of destroying working farms or evicting families from the homes they have lived in for generations.

My family has farmed our land for nearly a century – and Mraz wants to put us out of business? I have no respect for Jim Mraz, so I will not refer to him as “Mr.” One route would cut our farm in half and destroy our water source. If I remember correctly, when the Park was built, one of the largest farms in the Town was destroyed because of problems created by the construction. Now the Backers see nothing wrong with destroying many more farms – cutting them in half, taking the most fertile land, making parts inaccessible, and putting famers out of business. It’s apparent that the Backers have no use for farmland, other than for construction, because that’s where they have focused a majority of their proposals. Where are you going to get more farmland? Pull it out of a magician’s hat? The beautiful, quiet, rural landscape would be covered with asphalt and roaring trucks.

The best road is the existing one. Don’t many of the trucks come up 30A from Rt. 20 and I88, thus traveling on a narrower and more winding stretch of 30A than is between Fonda and the Park? The Park was ill placed and showed little through and now has a number of vacant structures. Isn’t it interesting that several of the longer routes go into Fulton County, thus providing the Backers with the ability to build a connector to their next failure – Tryon. Let’s build another partially filled Industrial Park.

Montgomery County is and has been a quiet, rural area that is noted for agriculture. In fact, agriculture is Montgomery County’s primary industry – and Mraz has no problem with wanting to destroy that industry and the lives of farmers. We need to keep it rural and the Backers of this mistake need to realize it. It’s time to stop pandering to special interests. How long is the “Special Interest” going to be around, with or without the connector?



We don’t want to sign our names and possibly be targeted. Farming has been our life – DO NOT KILL US!!!!!



Comment

To Whom it May Concern:

I am a resident of Fulton County and travel to Montgomery County to work. When I heard about the idea of looking into a possible truck route in Montgomery County to alleviate the traffic in Fonda, I thought it was a joke. Then I saw the many proposed routes and I got sick! Montgomery County doesn’t need to have another road!

Fulton County created the extra truck traffic and elevated pollution levels on route 30A and now wants to correct it by ruining a neighboring county. Why didn’t Fulton County search for industry that didn’t require heavy truck traffic? They had no real access to a road like the Thruway, but obviously didn’t give a hoot. Now Fulton County wants to expand the Industrial Park and make more traffic that is if they can fill the structures that are already empty. They even want to expand the Park on Montgomery County land rather than build on their own land. Obviously their concern for the people and the land in Montgomery County is non-existent. Montgomery County’s largest industry is agriculture and Fulton County would be destroying active farmland with most of the proposals. It appears that as long as it’s good for Fulton County, it must be good. I am ashamed to have to have these people represent me.

There has been some suggestion that Montgomery County should purchase the Industrial Park and relocate the Town of Mohawk garage and offices, the D.O.T., and County Annex to the vacant buildings in the Park, All of these I have mentioned are presently located in the flood plain. The parking at the present DSS and DMV location is so congested it would also make sense to relocate these agencies to the Park as well.

There are so many other ideas out there other than the routes proposed by Fulton County and their spokesman James Mraz.

Sincerely,

A Montgomery County Supporter


46 2/5/15 No Name Provided Public Comments Website

Comment The routes in the study essentially divide the Town of Mohawk in half. Our fire station is located on Route 30A. How will the proposed routes impact emergency response times? I am especially concerned about the route directly across (west) from the Fonda Fultonville School!!

Response Emergency responders will still utilize the existing route (NY Route 30A) for responding to emergencies. Therefore, response times should remain as they are today.


Comment Many children in the Village of Fonda walk to school. What safety accommodations will be made for them to cross the route proposed along Cemetery Street?

Response Pedestrian safety is very important. Specific accommodations for pedestrians will be identified and studied during preliminary design, subsequent to the feasibility study.


Comment

How dare you!!! One of your routes passes directly over the top of Haven of Hope Farm. FYI, they are a rescue for homeless women with children. I find your reckless and irresponsible approach to the destruction of our community to be disgusting. How will Fulton County and MJ Engineering compensate our community for the loss of this vital shelter?

Response Any existing structures that might be affected by potential acquisitions and require relocation will be progressed



following the NYSDOT ROW manual procedures.

49 2/8/15 Michael D Public Comments Website

Comment

Posting to lend support against the project, we've been on Switzer Hill for nearly 50 years now, and it is truly home.

I must admit that when I first heard of a 'connector' road to the industrial park I was somewhat happy- that could be nice for the village, alleviating some heavy traffic on the roads and increasing attractiveness for some more businesses in the park. Nobody in Fonda hates Fulton County, numerous work, eat, shop and entertain there. I, like probably many others, assumed this would involve possibly a bridge over near the west side of the village, combined with improvements to, you know, the EXISTING highway that goes right to the park. Obviously a contentious situation, there most likely would be homes lost, but it is important to keep our area growing and planned/prepared for the future.

Then now lo and behold we are getting a proposed hundreds of feet long bridge cutting up SWITZER HILL (go try and drive it during the current winter weather, tell me how fun it is. Now imagine tractor trailers constantly trying to do this), bending right through the Walter Butler site, right by our school then through miles and miles of a series of fairly hilly terrain of farms and family homes.

I do feel for village residents that their lives are impacted by increased traffic and trucks. But the answer to that is not to inconvenience thousands of other residents, make acres and acres of farmland unusable and ruin the area around our gorgeous school campus. Let's not even go into negative of who exactly would be coming through the village if a bypass was done. Would I feel hypocritical that I'm saying I don't want the east side touched, but maybe someone already closer to the existing 30A could give up their property? Well a little, but not really. Their home was chosen knowing it would be on an existing highway and if the effect is on a small group, not literally the entire Town of Mohawk, there is more a reason to go ahead with displacing people. Their sides should/would certainly be heard and if it really does not fit with them it should not be done and residents would then have to deal with the current situation with moderate solutions that could gain some type of positive outcome. There is also actual benefit to displacement for some of those properties because they would get premium prices that just aren't going to be there in resale market.

We can then get in to what may be the most absurd thing of the study, the cost of said project. Is there any way the total comes in under what, 500 million? To think about that amount of money and what it actually could do for this area compared to what benefit this project has me really wondering where motivation keeps coming from for this. Now that the study has been out for a little while and there's been time for everything to sink in and see all the impacts-environment, farms, school, homes, noise, I feel there's enough to warrant not doing this. Hopefully that talk on the state realizing it is an absolute waste of money holds up and that can kill this thing for good.

Carving up Montgomery County to benefit Fulton County benefits no one, including Fulton County. They will see the same suffering as the Town of Mohawk would deteriorate because of the highway. Fulton County needs to focus on how to grow in today's age. Tryon technology park could be great, but is a whole new road needed there as well? Maybe existing improvements to 67? There's plenty of empty space needing filling at the existing industrial parks before warranting this highway or any other major additions to the areas infrastructure. Fulton County has all-season tourism available (Skiing, snowmobiling, fishing in winters, boating in the summers, foliage and hunting in the fall) and it's like they do nothing to market or provide additional accommodations and attractions that can really attract additional tourists. They have an attractive community college that can't grow because they can't figure out a water deal for over 10 years. Factories are surely needed but they can be spread out to deter more mainstream traffic and go in existing areas in the counties that would not necessitate such widespread redevelopment. We need to grow together, not apart. Keep one of the better school districts in the area pristine and as is for the whole reason people move to the area, the countryside, should be ANYONE's priority that lives in, works in, and cares about the area.

It's always been my plan to come back and raise my kids there because I know there was not a more perfect place to grow up than with a great community in the peace and quiet. It would just truly be such a shame to see the area destroyed by this highway for really no reason at all.





Comment Following up on my comment #13 on the list, here is the newest study on traffic impacts on children to consider as you site routes dangerously close to our school http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/traffic-pollution-tied-to-slower-cognition-in-schoolchildren-1.2980163


51 3/17/15 David Gurga Public Comments Website

Comment

I just want to say that I work part time in Galway and I notice the amount of tractor trailers on my commute. Either stuck behind them or them going by me in the opposite direction. There use to be a tractor trailer driver named Evans who live across the street from us. I asked him why would so many semi drivers use route 29. His response was to save some money on tolls as they wouldn’t be going to exit 24. So they get off at Fonda. Go up 30 and across 29 to Saratoga to connect with the Northway. So these trucks that everyone is talking about are not necessarily going to the industrial parks in Johnstown but are using these routes is as a short cut and connector to the Thruway and Northway. So if this is built it, will most likely triple the truck traffic and the state Thruway would loose out on more tolls. Dave



Comment

I'd like to add to Dave Gurga's comment, #51 on the list. To truly alleviate the truck traffic in Fonda, the purpose of this project as stated by Fulton County, all the non-local trucks would need to be required to use the connector route as a truck bypass, as I look at the maps that would be very bad if you choose the western route to the rear of the Wal-Mart and increase the number of trucks passing through the poorly maintained roads that already exist within the industrial park, en-route to the Northway. Also looking at most of the other routes the trucks heading for Route 29 would simply turn off the connector onto Switzer Hill/Glebe Street or Melcher Street/ Old Johnstown Rd. putting a lot of trucks on roads not designed for them. Glebe and Melcher are narrow residential streets within the City of Johnstown which are difficult enough just for cars to turn onto Route 30A and would be very dangerous for trucks to attempt to make this turn.



Comment

If you haven't already please consult the Fulton County Center For Regional Growth aerial site plan map for the proposed expansion of the Johnstown Industrial Park. The proposed site plan conflicts with the Fonda Connector plan. The western route would need to cross the proposed rail line as well as dissect the proposed expansion area potentially rendering significant acreage undevelopable. In addition the expansion will nearly double the size of the current park. Is the connector roadway being designed to accommodate the anticipated traffic this expansion will create? All the connector routes except the western route and the current route appear to end at the Opportunity Drive entrance. If the park nearly doubles in size how will that significant increase in volume of trucks cross route 30A to enter the park without causing extensive traffic delays on Route 30A or the connector road? Please, before you waste anymore taxpayer dollars on this project, ask Fulton County to ask Fulton County what other conflicting projects that Fulton County is working on.

Response Your comment has been reviewed. Thank you for your input. All future development at the Industrial Park site in Fulton County has been coordinated with Fulton County representatives.


Comment

Route 30A beginning in the Village of Fonda is the NYS Scenic Byway Adirondack Trail. There are many conflicts between the Fonda Connector Study and the corridor management plan. The corridor management plan states as a goal under stewardship to "Preserve the rural and historic character of communities along the Byway." The connector road would not do this.

Also under: Future Stewardship



The Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway will require a carefully coordinated effort to effectively safeguard the corridor’s special assets for the future. It is imperative that attention be directed to monitor and maintain the combination of local efforts and existing initiatives operating across the region.

The Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway Steering Committee listed the following priorities to support stewardship and conservation goals for the corridor’s natural, historic, cultural and recreational resources that contribute to the viability of North Country communities. • to protect natural and recreational resources ....Develop a public education program that addresses the problem of invasive plants along the roadway. • to preserve natural resources ... Develop strategies that promote wilderness ethics and support the “leave no trace” concept. •to preserve the community character and quality of life ...Encourage the improvement of roadside aesthetics and local pride

You can find the entire management plan at https://www.dot.ny.gov/content/engineering/Scenic-Byways/Byways-repository/ADKTrailScenicByway-CMP.pdf



Comment

During the week of May 6 a traffic study was conducted along Riverside Drive in Fultonville. This study was conducted during a well publicized one-time event attracting several thousand visitors to the Fonda Fair Grounds. Any use of the information gathered in this traffic study would clearly be a deliberate effort on the part of MJ Engineering and Fulton County to falsely manipulate the Fonda Connector Study Data and to mislead and deceive the residents, farmers and business owners whose properties, homes and livelihoods are being threatened by the despicable actions of MJ Engineering and Fulton County.

Response Your comment has been reviewed. Thank you for your input. Traffic data was collected on May 14, 2014 from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM in order to determine the AM and PM peak hour of adjacent street traffic.


Comment

The update to the Town of Mohawk Comprehensive Plan has been completed and accepted by the town board. The Fonda Connector is in direct conflict with the town's updated comprehensive plan. In addition the Town of Mohawk passed resolution 33 formerly opposing the Fonda Connector.


57 8/04/15 Anonymous Meetings & Public Outreach Website

Comment

I have always thought there should be a highway connector to Fulton County. All the impacts are not always bad. With the right route and considerations it can be a win-win for just about everyone. So much traffic cuts through Tribes Hill and Fort Hunter to cross the Mohawk River and a lot of that comes from the Johnstown area. The truck traffic through Fultonville and Fonda is also at a max. The improvements in Fonda have helped some. Most of the truck traffic goes from the industrial park straight to the thruway anyway. I think the best route is straight across the thruway entrance. The river is narrower there. I understand the position of the alpaca farmer, but being FAIRLY compensated, he can rebuild at a new location of his choice. If they were giving his land to a developer for a housing development or other commercial project I would agree with his outrage.

As far as a rail connector, why not just re-activate FJ&G and improve the existing right of way that goes right up to the industrial park anyway. They can widen that bridge over the Cayadutta and 327 and improve 327 access. Again a win win.

I don't see too many negatives with this project even without investment by commercial interests in the industrial parks. Take that into consideration, say hundreds of new decent paying jobs do hit the area, how is that a bad thing

https://www.dot.ny.gov/content/engineering/Scenic-Byways/Byways-repository/ADKTrailScenicByway-CMP.pdf

https://www.dot.ny.gov/content/engineering/Scenic-Byways/Byways-repository/ADKTrailScenicByway-CMP.pdf



for Montgomery County? This area is economically depressed enough. Any reasonable projects should be considered.

Which would have been a better project? The walk bridge across the Mohawk in Amsterdam, which really doesn't provide a real benefit to anyone or economic investment in our region???


58 8/05/15 Arthur Frimble Public Comments Website

Comment These 'planners' had better remember there's an historic site abutting Old Trail called Butlersbury that is both state and federally protected, and if they try messing with that, they will have historians on their backs all the way from Canada.

Response

Your comment has been reviewed. Thank you for your input. The Walter Butler Home is located near the Switzer Hill/Old Trail intersection. The closest feasible alignment (E1) would be approximately 700 ft from the site. The feasible alternatives do not require the removal or alteration of the home. Additionally, during the preliminary design phases, the alignments will have to be cleared for both archeological and historic properties. This will potentially include viewshed analysis and Phase 1A/1B archeological studies. The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and/or the New York State Department of Transportation will review the alignments and their impacts, if any.

59 8/16/15 C. Subik Meetings &Public Outreach Website

Comment A check of your website as to the time for your upcoming public meeting on August 19 at FMCC left me in disbelief. I could not find any posting on your page for the meeting at all. This is a good idea on your company’s part if you are really hoping that by not keeping the public informed, you will have a low number of people show up.

Response The information for the August 19, 2015 Public Meeting was posted on the project website and was also advertised in the local newspaper two weeks prior to the meeting date.

60 8/18/15 Ray About Website

Comment

The super intelligent Fulton County board created this mess by building the industrial park there in the first place. How did they THINK the trucks were going to get there...fly in!!!!! Because of their incompetency we (Fulton Co taxpayers) have to pick up the tab and people will have to give up their land and homes and businesses to build a road. I gain nothing from all this and my taxes are high enough...


61 8/19/15 No Name Provided The Study Team Website

Comment

I have lived in Fulton and Montgomery Counties for a little over a decade and believe there is great potential in the area to be a region unto itself and not listed in either the Mohawk Valley/ Central New York or the Capitol Region. In this time period I have seen little to no progress to develop an identity beyond the former glove/ carpet making history. I hear and see how nice this area was. The connector highway is an important step for Montgomery and Fulton Counties to make a new future. Truck traffic will only increase if the region is to grow even if rail service is brought in again. CSX has expressed high reservations in bringing rail service to the areas commercial zones. Trucks will come and will ruin the Villages of Fultonville and Fonda. I suggest that the residents of both counties figure out what works best to protect these villages and develops the areas viability to industry with the least impact to the fewest people. From the meeting on 08/19/2015 it became clear to me that the improvement of the connection between the interstate and the industrial park will happen one way or another and right now we have the chance to have it on our terms before an outside entity makes the decision for us. I would like to let it be understood that the Fonda-Fultonville School District receives a large portion of school taxes from the industry. Fage has one property contributing nearly $456,800. Further development in the park would increase taxes to the school district. These are issues impacting the entire region not just the Villages of Fonda and Fultonville and the Town of Mohawk. Lastly I was saddened by the lack of respect from what appeared to be residents of the previously mentioned municipalities when an attendee spoken in favor of the proposed highways. The man had the respect to keep boos and hisses to



himself when others were speaking against the proposal and was not afford the same when it was his turn to speak.


62 8/19/15 Nolan J. Marciniec Public Comments Website

Comment

Tonight's public forum at FMCC offered a tortured rationalization of an ill-conceived and obscenely expensive "solution" to a lack of planning for the now moribund industrial parks in Fulton County. If nothing else, it left me convinced that refitting the existing route was the most sensible and least expensive solution -- and yet that plan was not deemed "feasible"? None of the audience's questions and concerns were answered by MJ Engineering. I had the feeling that those questions and concerns might have been more properly addressed to Mr. Mraz, but he was notably silent. The feasibility study (Appendix F) -- ironically entitled "Smart Growth" -- that there was been "participation in community-based planning." That has NOT been the case. We residents of the Town of Mohawk have had no say in the planning. The document also indicates that the project is "consistent with local plans." That, too, has NOT been the case. The residents of the Town of Mohawk have expressed their values and vision for their community in a Comprehensive Plan, and a connector highway is antithetical to their plan. These two assertions are untruths and need to be recognized as such. Since options E1 and F1 pass directly behind my house (woodland, stream wetland), I was concerned about the environmental impact. Appendix F indicates that there will be "significant environmental impact" and anticipates "substantial controversy on environmental grounds." The US Army Corps of Engineers indicates that, regarding natural resources, the threshold "is present and exceeded" by the proposed highway on at least 2 instances. The DEC indicates that the highway passes near a "high yield aquifer" and a "critical environment." The DEC indicates that 13 species of migratory birds might be affected, some of which are protected, and also lists many protected species whose breeding patterns might also be affect. The USDA ranks most of the land affected as "prime farmland." Routes E1 and F1 will destroy irreplaceable natural habitat. But, perhaps most important, the study does not address the human element -- which is, admittedly hard to "quantify." Building a highway looks better on a resume than preserving the quality of life of the resident of the Town of Mohawk.

Your comment has been reviewed. Thank you for your input.

63 8/20/15 Kathleen Smith About Website

Comment

These are my comments from the public hearing last evening at FMCC. I am posting them on this official connector site so they become a part of the official record.

I believe this study is a product of motivated research. It’s nothing more than a $492,000 justification for a road that some people behind closed doors in Fulton County decided they want for whatever reason. Behind closed doors they decided on this road and its route before a dime was spent.

When we first started hearing about this project many years ago, it was reported in the media that a study was soon to be underway to identify a 3.5 mile Fonda bypass route to the industrial park in Fulton County. Let me repeat that statement in case you didn’t catch the importance of it.

A study was underway to identify a 3.5 mile bypass route....not “about a 3 mile route,” not “an approximate 4 mile route,” not “a route” --- a 3.5 mile route. Also, a local farmer was told years ago that his farm was in the direct path of a new road that was going to be built. Mind you, this was told to him before any study was done, before any money was spent, or before any votes were taken. --- Draw your own conclusions.

And then there’s the name --- From the get go, the public has called this the Fonda Bypass. What did M.J. Engineering and the Fulton County planners call it? The Fonda Connector. They could hardly call it a Fonda Bypass when they knew from the very beginning that their recommended route would not bypass the Village of Fonda at all, but instead would go up the hill in front of the school and cut the village in half.

Knowing this, how can we trust this study? The study is flawed with false premises, inaccuracies and absurd justifications of “If you build it they will come.” It needs to be discarded. Also, there are questions that need to be answered. For example, how come improving the existing route was not included in the study?

Knowing that years ago some “brilliant” people behind closed doors in Fulton County were attempting to decide the fate of people in Montgomery County is not exactly reassuring. The public has no reason to trust these people. Why should we trust this study?



We all know that some time ago, another group of “brilliant” people in Amsterdam decided that building a mall in the middle of Main Street was a good idea too....and we all know how that is working out for them! The study is flawed, the bypass is a bad idea --- scrap it, save our money, save our village and restore our property values.

Response Your comment has been reviewed. Thank you for your input. Additional information on improvements to the existing route has been included in the FINAL Report.

64 8/20/15 Mark Allen Public Comments Website

Comment

I read a large portion of the Draft study, and in my opinion, it doesn't provide a very favorable endorsement of this project. In paragraph 1.4.6 they state a connector "appears to be feasible". That doesn't sound like a positive endorsement. A lot of things are "feasible" but you would never do them because they don't provide enough benefit. In fact, they even state that in paragraph 1.6.3. Three alternative routes were identified yet further details in the study indicate that only one route (Alternative B) is “viable”. Why did they even include those other 2 if they are not viable? The one they deem as "viable" only makes the cut because it uses existing infrastructure and doesn't include the total cost of the project. There is a huge additional cost to build all the access roads to the new connector road. They conveniently left that cost out of the study, not to mention the ongoing costs to maintain all these new roads in the future. This money could go a long way to fixing the existing infrastructure across NYS that is already crumbling and in dire need of repair.

Response Your comment has been reviewed. Thank you for your input. A cost of replacing the existing bridge has been included in Chapter 3. Anticipated costs to maintain each feasible alternative are included in Appendix J, Table J-22.

65 8/24/15 Elaine Harris N/A Mail

Comment

I attended the public 8/19/15 meeting. I recommend that there be a feasibility study using the current 30A route. It should not have been dismissed in your study.

*How do we find answers to the questions posed by the group members attending the meeting? I heard questions, but no answers!

Response Your comment has been reviewed. Thank you for your input. Additional information on improvements to the existing route has been included in the FINAL Report. Questions and responses to the comments received at the Public Meeting No. 2 are included at the end of the public comments section.

66 8/24/15 Barbara Borkowski N/A Mail

Comment Please consider other solutions to ease the problem on Rt. 30A. – Please look into the possibility of widening the existing road(s).


67 8/24/15 Barbara Tucci N/A Mail

Comment Make improvements on the current roads instead of constructing new ones!


68 8/24/15 Rich Tucci N/A Mail

Comment Reconsider using the existing roads and making improvements to them.


69 8/31/15 Fred Castiglione N/A Mail

Comment Only knuckleheads will vote against the connector. They don’t realize that the connector will bring “jobs” to the area



and will lower taxes.


70 8/31/15 Joshua Elston N/A Mail

Comment

I would like to thank all those involved. The meeting was informative. My wife and I see the need for a new connector highway for both economic growth in the Fulton-Montgomery area and improving the safety in the affected villages. I hope moving forward more support can be found for the project and see this as one of two things that must be accomplished by the planning group. The other is to advocate for proposals E1 and F1.


71 9/4/15 Clark Subik Public Comments Website

Comment

Fonda Residents being misled by Connector Road Study Recent news of the Fonda Connector Study and the announcement of the meeting this Wednesday the 19th at FMCC have been on Radio Station WENT 1340 AM. These announcements have stated repeatedly that the study's goal is to have heavy truck traffic bypass the village of Fonda. This news must sound good to the Fonda village residents. However, they are being misled as Alternative Route B still brings all the trucks into the village. Instead of going down Main Street with their large diesel engines at an idle, they will be climbing up a very steep grade coming off the railroad bridge with their throttles wide open and without a doubt belching even more diesel smoke filled exhaust into the village. Additionally, coming down the grade they will be forced to use their engine Jake brakes which makes a very loud obnoxious sound. Alternate Route B is ill conceived and should not have been even considered from the start as it does not accomplish what should be the goal of the study. Route B will bring the village residents the equivalent noise and air pollution of the Saturday night Stock Car races to enjoy 24 hours a day, seven days a week. At a recent public meeting at the Mohawk Town Hall, I believe I heard Mayor Peeler state that 14,000 trucks a day go through the Village of Fonda. I am sure he misspoke and he should have been given an opportunity to correct himself. The study determined a number that was nearer 2000. However, one should question the accuracy of this traffic data, as compiled by MJ Engineering. The study states that its traffic count was done on May 14, 2014, a Wednesday from 7am to 9am and 4pm to 6pm that day only. Done at peak times on a work day, the study than projects the numbers over the whole year and arrives at annual daily average. This method is flawed and dramatically skews the study by overstating the number of cars and trucks that supposedly go through Fonda. If Route Alternative B is selected and built, factoring in Fulton County's hoped for increased development, this could possibly double the number of trucks entering the Village of Fonda. Do a few thousand more trucks a day in the village sound good to the residents? If not, call your representatives now! And tell them that the Fonda Connector Study Route B is not acceptable. Fonda Mayor Bill Peeler 518-853-4335 ext 26 Town of Mohawk Representative Ryan Weitz 518-265-3136 Montgomery County Executive Matt Ossenfort 518-853-4304 Clark D. Subik 1140 Old Trail Road Fonda, NY

Response

Your comment has been reviewed. Thank you for your input. Traffic collection information and future predictions used in this study follow the current standards as specified in NYSDOT Highway Design Manual, Chapter 5, Section 5.2 and the Institute of Transportation Engineers Traffic Engineering Handbook, 6

th Edition. These standards and

procedures have been referenced in Chapter 2, Section 2.4.1.6 of the FINAL report. The data collection methods and forecasted volumes have been reviewed by the NYSDOT.



72 9/4/15 Clark Subik About Website

Comment

The following article appeared in The Daily Gazette - Schenectady 8/19/15 - The Leader Herald Newspaper 8/18/15 and The Amsterdam Recorder Newspaper 8/18/15

Montgomery County Executive Matthew Ossenfort and District 4 Legislator Ryan Weitz just issued a joint letter in opposition to the proposed Fonda Connector. The joint statement is included below: WITH POSSIBLE ROUTES NOW DETERMINED, CONNECTOR PROJECT NOT FEASIBLE High Cost, Negative Impact, Makes Project Not The Right Fit For Montgomery County We have given substantial consideration to the proposal to build the Fonda Connector, a new limited access roadway that would reroute traffic from Thruway exit 28 to the Johnstown Industrial Park. The staff of the Montgomery County Business Development Center (MCBDC) has reviewed the Draft Feasibility Study that has recently been completed pursuant to this initiative and we have reviewed their findings. After due deliberation, we must state, unambiguously, that the proposed project does not make sense for a number of reasons and, as such, we must oppose this project. The facts are that the project will have a profound negative impact upon the residents of the Town of Mohawk and businesses in downtown Fonda. Additionally, the project is a colossal waste of political capital and furthermore, the conclusions of the Feasibility Study seem contrived and pre-determined. Recently, Montgomery County and Fulton County have enjoyed a strong collaborative relationship when it comes to economic development. We are working very closely with Fulton County representatives to ensure that the Regional Business Park, an economically important project to be located along Route 30, at the boundary of Montgomery and Fulton counties, becomes a reality. Montgomery County has invested considerable resources in economic development and has made economic development a paramount priority. Furthermore, we understand the importance of addressing economic development in a regional context. However, the Fonda Connector project is one that we must oppose. This was not a decision that was made lightly. It is clear after analyzing the positive and negative impacts of the project, together with the significant costs associated with even the least costly alternative, it quickly became clear to us that the disadvantages far outweigh its benefit. The Feasibility Study has significant technical weaknesses and utilizes certain underlying (and we believe unsupportable) assumptions regarding positive economic impact. Our chief concerns are as follows: - The fact is that should any of the proposed alternative roadway routes be built, it would forever change the character of the Town of Mohawk in a negative manner. Owners of property seized to build these routes by eminent domain would be affected even more dramatically. There simply is not enough of a compelling public need to justify taking private property, including farms that have been in families for generations, to build this connector. There is a lot to be said about local sovereignty when it comes to decisions that affect a single town this dramatically. - This project would negatively impact existing retail businesses in the Village of Fonda and within the Town of Mohawk that would, literally, be bypassed. The fact is that the economic impact analysis does not even address the negative impacts upon existing local businesses. - We must prioritize projects and choose significant development plans wisely. Each county has a very finite ability, in the form of limited political capital, to spend in the pursuit of state and federal support for local projects. When we spend that capital, we must spend it wisely, as there is only a certain amount of access to federal and state monies. The amount of money needed to construct the Connector could be put to much better uses in Montgomery County. - There is no way for either the county or our municipalities to pay for a very small cost share on a project that, at a minimum, will cost more than $60 million. The feasibility study does identify all sorts of possible sources of this funding, including some loans, but this type of project is no longer a priority with Federal and State highway administrators and simply is unlikely to be funded. The federal government and the state Department of Transportation have generally refrained from creating new lane miles — that is, new roads — and instead have focused upon investment in existing transportation infrastructure. It would be more beneficial to look into less costly ways of improving the existing route.



The Feasibility Study contains a number of disconcerting assumptions and omissions, most notably that an alternative route passes muster. In reviewing the study, it was evident that scant attention was given to evaluating a solution that does not create a new route, but simply makes improvements to the existing corridor. The feasibility study should take a much closer look at the improvements to level of service within the existing corridor, which is far less costly, such as the utilization of Intelligent Traffic Signalization (ITS). The Feasibility and accompanying cost-benefit analysis do not consider the loss of prime farmland and intrusion into agricultural districts. The analysis appears to rely upon a complete build out of available acreage in computing the positive economic impact of the project, while is not just unrealistic and overly optimistic, it produces an erroneous cost-benefit ratio. Those costs are escalated to 2023, using a 2.5 percent annual inflator for construction costs, an inflation rate that seems absurdly low, given how the costs of public infrastructure rapidly escalate over time. While parallel access roads are needed to yield the projected benefits of the project, the costs of actually building these parallel access roads are not factored into the overall project cost. In conclusion, we recognize that the existing traffic situation along Route 5 and Route 30 is not optimal — creating noxious influences upon downtown Fonda and creating some delay for trucks traveling to the Johnstown Industrial Park and other nearby destinations, but at the same time, it is not dysfunctional. Our key to success is prioritizing the potential resources we have and putting them to best use. As such, there is simply no way that these circumstances compel us to build this road. County Executive Matthew L. Ossenfort Legislator Ryan B. Weitz (District 4)


73 9/6/15 Jim Clauson About Website

Comment

This is a road that will never be built because:

1. It is not needed. There is little reason to believe it will attract businesses to an industrial park already 1/2 empty. 2. It is hugely expensive. 3. There is no reason to think the state of NY will give this project high enough priority to fund it. In the meantime homeowners in the Town of Mohawk cannot sell their homes except at discounted prices. Please end this!!! Jim Clauson


74 9/8/15 Sam Vojtek N/A Mail

Comment

Regarding the existing Route – it needs to be looked at with modifications as were the 3 alternative routes. You indicated your firm needs to be told to do so. Fulton County (Mraz) needs to have this issue addressed and a future meeting will need to be held to air the findings. If Mraz or Fulton County does not ask for this, we then know this study is prejudiced.


75 9/8/15 Don Harris N/A Mail

Comment

1. The engineer dodged any questions he chose not to answer.

2. There was no convincing argument as to why the current route couldn’t be upgraded.

3. Since almost everyone who attended from the area opposes the idea of a new connector, why is Fulton County promoting this idea, and why didn’t Montgomery County get involved?

Response Your comment has been reviewed. Thank you for your input. Additional information on improvements to the existing



route has been included in the FINAL Report.

76 9/8/15 S.J. Carbone N/A Mail

Comment

I lived at the East End of Fonda on Main Street-NYS Route 5 and have lived there since 1956. The changes in traffic patterns, including the creation and expansion of the industrial park south of Johnstown have brought ruination to Fonda. The traffic does far more harm than benefit. Any planner should have recognized that without needing to be told. It is not only the truck traffic, which we were told by the NYSDOT in 2006 constituted 15% of the traffic, but it is also the commuter traffic from Fulton County that has presented the problem over the past 15 years. One cause for traffic using Fonda as a thoroughfare has been the demise of the industrial jobs in Fulton County so that thousands of residents from Fulton County now need to commute to points east via the Thruway each workday. Solving the truck traffic flow only up to the industrial park will not solve the commuter traffic problem in Fonda. It is also my experience that the Arterial, Route 30A, is no longer adequate for the amount of local traffic. True planners would be compelled to consider a superhighway by-pass around the commercial district of Johnstown on 30A or a major widening from the industrial park south of Johnstown up to Gloversville. Too often, there is a 2 mile traffic jam from the Holiday Inn to Glebe Street. A true planner would assess a superhighway connection between Rt. 67 and the Thruway, possibly reconstructing Rt. 67 to Ft. Johnson – Amsterdam to Exit 27 as a better alternative to the Exit 28 connection. That would reduce the flow of both automobile and truck traffic through the bottleneck of Fonda and reduce travel time for eastbound commuters. Further, the entire “connector” idea was devoid of consideration for developing at the Town of Glen site, which is much closer to Exit 28 and would not use Fonda or Fultonville for thoroughfare. That would solve some of the truck traffic through Fonda, but it would not eliminate the commuter traffic. In addition, the recent idea of reconstructing a railroad seems quite based outside of reality. The old FJ&G railroad failed because the old industrial demands were unable to provide sufficient demand for profitable rail transport. It had been supplanted by truck transport. Railroads carry primarily commodities today and Johnstown no longer has such a need. If the railroad was to be revived, then it was quite foolish to have removed it. This idea smacks of political cronyism for someone with an inside track to government subsidies and when the subsidies run out, the railroad will once again become a pasture. Finally, the connector process has been one of obdurate indifference to the destruction that Fulton County policies have rained upon Fonda and now threaten in the Town of Mohawk. How un-American is it for us to have our destiny determined by outsiders! If we do not want a road going through our territory, how dare you propose and fight for such a monstrosity? You ought to remember the old adage progress as if survival matters. I have yet to observe professional planning on this subject. If you need our support, then you must meet with us and satisfy our fears and anxieties about short-sighted exploitation of our home area. If you would only walk the land and meet with all of those affected, you might discover that there could be a plan that would work with the least invasion of others’ property and lifestyles, instead of dictating from another county in an imperious fashion. It is such an embarrassment to the legacy left to us by our forbearers from this area who fought and sacrificed so hard for freedom. You are selling the magnanimous legacy for self-aggrandizement.


77 9/9/15 Lori Haughn About Website

Comment

The traffic issue is a missed opportunity for Fonda. We have lived on Broadway in Fonda for 5 and a half years now, and both of us are experiencing upper respiratory issues which I attribute to the diesel pollution. We have several air purifiers in the house, and every 10 days or so, when I clean them, there is a disturbing amount of fine black particulate material on the bars. This is what we are breathing in.

I have never seen this amount of pollution elsewhere, where we have lived, and based on the fact that is also covers the porch and the house, I think it must be from the commercial traffic on our street.

Accordingly we have decided to relocate. We have a rental unit in fort plain, and my husband will be moving in there in October. I will join him once I have made the Fonda house ready to list. We both have good jobs, and mine is in Albany. Its a relatively painless commute to Albany. I mentioned that the traffic issue a missed



opportunity for Fonda because more people with reasonably good jobs in the area would come to live here and spend money here if it were not for the significant health concerns.

I would dissuade folks from moving to Fonda because diesel pollution, over time, is known to cause lung cancer. Fonda is such a nice little town and a proud one too. I'm sorry to leave my beautiful home but when I spend a weekend at our rental home in Ft Plain, I am struck by the difference in the air quality.


78 9/10/15 Joseph and Frances Martuscello N/A Mail

Comment Regardless of what our supposed representatives have indicated and former Board of Supervisors voted, we as residents of the Village of Fonda for our 50 years are begging for relief of the traffic nightmare that is Bridge Street, Main Street and Broadway.


79 9/10/15 Virginia Healey N/A Mail

Comment

My main concern is the route selected – or talked about was close to F-F- Central School. I worry about the children’s safety. They are our future.

How would the Village benefit from this? – Will it improve our business? Who will help pay for the upkeep of our water systems?? – Roads? Will the noise, and air pollution be placed in another area or rerouting? – Have another meeting in Fonda when it is possible.

Response Your comment has been reviewed. Thank you for your input. Information related to your questions are contained in the FINAL Report. Please see response to Comment FC-2, below. If the project moves forward, additional public meetings will be held during those phases of the project.

80 9/10/15 Robert D. Galusha N/A Mail

Comment

Commercial truck traffic needs to be routed around the village of Fonda. The Village receives no benefit by having truck traffic pass through the Village. Pollution, noise and damage to our underground water systems cost the local taxpayers money. Before the Johnstown Business Park was ever started, plans should have included a way for vehicles to enter and exit the park without going through Fonda. Maybe the old FJ&G Railroad tracks were taken up too soon. Business is always good for the area, but ways to get to these businesses should be a first priority.


81 9/10/15 Marlene M. Vunk N/A Mail

Comment

This should have been considered many years ago – prior to having the distributions centers built!!

Yes, please do something!! The quality of life in the Village of Fonda has and is continuing to deteriorate due to the around the clock truck traffic, affecting our streets, underground water sewer system. Village residents also have the right for better air quality and less noise.

Do something before the damage is not able to be repaired – or anyone left to care!!!


82 9/10/15 Stan Mitchell N/A Mail

Comment I own property at 10 West Main Street in the Village. I embrace the traffic coming through the Village. Vehicles, including trucks, do stop at the few businesses in the Village stop wasting taxpayers’ money on a connector and use it for the existing route into the industrial parks.




83 9/10/15 Josephine C. Breuer N/A Mail

Comment

We need some relief from all the truck traffic on our Village streets. Make believe Village is flooded – have trucks go whatever way they did then! Go to Canajo thruway exit, and then take Route 5 to Industrial Parks.

We have lost grocery store, pharmacy, bakery and several diners over the years. Glen Travel and truck stop while still there, has severely declined!!


84 9/10/15 Thomas Becker N/A Mail

Comment

I have heard the project was dead, then that there are three proposals on the table and lastly that Montgomery County is against it, but Fulton County is for the connector Route. As a Village resident, I feel something must be done. With talk of industrial park expansion, more traffic will filter through Broadway. For now, let’s get correct information to the village residents before meetings.

As an additional idea, let’s expand FJ&G path from Route 5 to the industrial park and for trucks going to Saratoga and the Northway, direct traffic to 30A at the industrial park.


85 9/10/15 Eva Waffle N/A Mail

Comment No the local businesses suffer. Leave things alone.


86 9/16/15 David Winkler N/A Mail

Comment

The present volume of traffic through town is too much for reasons that you have already stated. Get the traffic off the Village streets. My house has had gas leaks outside the house and foundation cracks. The windows rattle when trucks go by. Relatives won’t stay overnight because of the truck noise. After looking over the website build a new bridge for the truck traffic. Modification of the existing route only alleviates part of the problem and would be a waste of money. There would still be traffic problems getting over the bridges. If I read the proposals correctly, modifying the existing route and possibly eliminating Mills Terrace would probably put my front door closer to the road. I am the last house on Broadway when I step out my front door. I will have to remember to look both ways. I am not sure which bridge proposal is the best. I would leave that to the ones doing the study.


87 9/17/15 Timothy F. Healey N/A Mail

Comment

Allow no other vehicles on this road other than tractor trailers and emergency vehicles as needed. Keep a constant police presence on this road at all times with those having jurisdiction on it. If it does cut through the Village of Fonda, make sure no side streets empty into it and the same goes for the Town of Mohawk roads. Build a bypass; get this outrageous traffic out of the Village!


88 11/09/15 Anonymous Meetings & Public Outreach Mail

Comment

This connector has to happen without taking away from our community! Out little Town of Fonda or “Village” has taken enough. Please try to route these trucks away from our school, village streets and our town. It is terrible to even be on the street when they all come whizzing by. It seems the most reasonable thing to do would be to go where the power lines on the west side of Fonda is. Build a new bridge, road, whatever is needed! Please and thank you!



General Comments received at the August 19, 2015 Public Information Meeting No. 2:


PM2-1 Comment received at Public Meeting No. 2

Comment What is meant by a protection zone for the school?

Response

The phrase “protection zone” is not used in the feasibility Study Report. The feasible alternatives chosen were developed to provide a separation distance from the alternative route to the existing Fonda-Fultonville Central School that is equal to or exceeds any separation distances from any existing NYS highway facilities. Please see response to Comment FC-2 below.


Comment Are there databases available for the public to review regarding the Feasibility Study?

Response

Supporting information for the analysis given in the DRAFT Feasibility Study Report are included in the report appendices. The DRAFT Feasibility Study Report and associated appendices can be downloaded from the project website:

http://fondaconnector.com/documents-information


Comment Why were the timeframes of 7:00 am to 9:00 am and 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm selected for conducting traffic counts?

Response

Traffic count times were determined based on available historic traffic volume data that was obtained from the NYSDOT Traffic Data Viewer for the corridor from I-90 Thruway Exit 28 to the Johnstown Industrial Park. This data was collected using Automatic Traffic Recorders (ATR’s) that consist of pneumatic tubes placed across the roadway to provide axle counts. This data is typically presented in one (1) hour increments for a duration of between four (4) to seven (7) days. This historic data was used in establishing the timed to conduct am and pm peak hour turning movement data collection.

Traffic reference materials that were used for guidance to obtain the traffic count time frames include:

1. The NYSDOT Highway Design Manual, Chapter 5 – This manual outlines the standards, methods and references utilized to collect data for traffic studies.

Chapter 5, Section 5.2.1.1 – Data Acquisition Methods contains reference to Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Traffic Engineering Handbook, 6th Edition regarding data collection for traffic analyses.

Chapter 5, Section 5.2.1.3.B – Data Requirements states that traffic flow diagrams containing traffic data collected and utilized for capacity or level of service analyses should be developed for commuter travel periods (e.g., AM or PM peak hours

2. Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Traffic Engineering Handbook, 6th Edition - This manual provides industry standard procedures and standards to collect data for traffic studies.

Chapter 8, Section III.A.2 details duration of counts are typically 1, 2, 4 or 11-hour counts. Four (4) hour counts typically cover both peak periods of the day.

Industry standards have evolved over the years and it has been adopted by traffic engineers that traffic data utilized for analyses should represent a typical day of the year. This would include a period of good weather that does not adversely affect driving behavior and when traffic patterns are not affected by increased volumes due to holiday travel. Data collection should also include all modes of transportation that use the project area including school buses and associated traffic.

Traffic data was collected in May 2014.

http://fondaconnector.com/documents-information



Based on the traffic references above, traffic patterns are considered to be normal from Monday afternoon through Friday morning. The available historic traffic volume hourly data was analyzed to determine the times of the day that the peak volumes occur.

Peak volumes typically occur during the morning and afternoon commuting periods. The analysis of the record data for the study area demonstrated that the peak hour volumes occurred from 7:00 am to 9:00 am and 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on the major roads within the study area.

Per the ITE Traffic Engineering Handbook, 6th Edition, a minimum of two (2) hours of traffic turning movements were counted at the intersection locations noted in the report. In addition to the intersection traffic counts, ATR’s were installed at the locations noted in the report and recorded data for a period of seven (7) days. The peak hours were confirmed by the ATR information collected. An explanation of NYSDOT standards for traffic studies has been included in Section 2.4.1.6 – Existing Traffic Volumes of the Feasibility Study. The traffic collection and future traffic projection methodology selected is consistent with the design references noted above.


Comment How will a farmer be able to cross the connector road to get to adjacent fields?

Response

Driveway access points to provide access from one side of the property to another will be designed in the future phases of the project. This condition would apply when a property owner has property on both sides of the connector road. Coordination with each property owner and driveway access locations would be determined during the preliminary and detailed in the final design phases of the project.

Section 3.6.2 in the Feasibility Study Report has been updated to reflect the statement above.


Comment Why did the SMART Growth form say that the project included participation in community-based planning?

Response

Community-based planning for transportation projects takes place at the planning phase and design phase for a project. It includes public information meetings, website outreach and public document access.

Two (2) public meetings have been held, public input/comments have been received via the project website. Comments received from the public are being considered and responded to. This process is consistent with community based planning.


Comment Why did the SMART Growth form say that the project is consistent with local plans?

Response

The Master Plan for the Town of Mohawk discusses goals for the community including preserving the Town's rural character and open spaces and improving infrastructure. The survey of residents also shows that over 78% would like to see more jobs in the town and the majority would like to see "any" jobs created with the next highest job preference being Manufacturing, Industrial and Warehousing.

The plan shows people would like to maintain the rural character and protecting farmland (68% and 66.5%, respectively find this very important) however, 55% found improving local roads highly important, 41% found improving traffic safety and flow very important and 37% found new business/industry highly important.

The Town of Mohawk Master Plan does not mention or dissuade against the Fonda Connector. Meetings with Fulton County have indicated that the project is consistent with their local plans. The public opposition to the project from Montgomery County did not occur until well after the publishing of the Draft Feasibility Study. The SMART Growth checklist will be updated for the FINAL Feasibility Study to reflect the existence of some public opposition.


Comment How will the environmental integrity of Montgomery County be safeguarded against this project if it is constructed?



Response

Since Federal and State funding would likely be involved in the project, the project would be subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). Environmental impacts must be evaluated and quantified. Agencies including but not limited to the United States Army Corps of Engineers, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Federal Highway Administration, the New York State Department of Transportation, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and additional local agencies would provide review and comment on the project.

The project would have to be designed and constructed to minimize the projects impacts on the environment. This is the legal requirement established by the SEQRA /NEPA process.

The NYSDOT Draft Design Report / Environmental Impact Statement report outline has been included in Appendix M in order to demonstrate the process the project will need to go through in order to safeguard the environmental integrity of the project.


Comment How can the Study conclude that there will be a decrease in vehicular emissions?

Response

It is anticipated that there will be a reduction in vehicular emissions since through traffic wouldn’t be idling as much and making frequent start and stop movements at traffic lights within the proposed project corridor as compared to the numerous and frequent start and stop conditions that are present along the existing route. Vehicular emissions would be estimated as part of the preliminary design process assuming the same volume of traffic. Emissions would only increase if traffic volumes increase.


Comment

Why does MJ Engineering’s Traffic Impact Study for the Regional Business Park conclude that making major improvements to the existing Route 30A road is not feasible due to property impacts and costs? Yet, the Connector Feasibility Study says Alternates B, E1 and F1 are feasible and the property impacts and cost of these alternatives are greater than the property impacts and costs of upgrading Route 30A.

Response

For the purposes of this study, the term “feasible” is defined as an alternative, meets or partially meets the project needs/goals and was determined, by an engineering analysis to be warranted for further study in future design study phases. Feasible alternatives will not be deemed feasible for construction until further detailed engineering analysis is completed in the preliminary design phases of the project.

The Regional Business Park Traffic Impact Study investigates a traffic threshold capacity analysis for three (3) types of potential development at the Regional Business Park site and analyzes the potential traffic capacity impacts on the existing route for each option.

The Regional Business Park Traffic Impact Study itself does not specifically analyze or quantify property or environmental impacts, etc., which are necessary to determine feasibility for construction. Again, the Regional Business Park Traffic Impact Study only analyzes traffic capacity along the existing route based on potential development at the Regional Business Park site.

The Fonda Connector Feasibility Study assesses alternate routes to address the project needs and goals. One of those goals is to reduce tractor-trailer traffic though the Villages of Fultonville, Fonda and along the existing route. The Regional Business Park Traffic Impact Study analyzes the impacts on the existing route due to potential development at the Regional Business Park site.

Since the goals of these two (2) studies are different, the conclusions of the reports should not be compared on a side-by-side basis.


Comment Was consideration given to changing the location of Exit 28 on the NYS Thruway?

Response A meeting with the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) was held in June 2014 to discuss the potential for a new or revised future location for Interchange 28. During this meeting, the NYSTA clearly stated that there were currently no plans to alter the location of Interchange 28 nor were they willing to discuss a potential new location. As



such, alterations of Interchange 28 were not analyzed as part of this study.


Comment What is a PDA? This needs to be better defined.

Response

A PDA is a Potential Development Area (PDA). PDA’s represent one (1) or more tracts of land along a feasible route that was identified as having some potential to be developed based upon review of wetlands, existing construction, topography, utility right-of-ways, etc. drawn from engineering review. The PDA configurations do not necessarily correspond with plot lines and represent one (1) or more tracts of land where existing property owners along the right-of-way could pursue developing their properties by subdivision or property sales.


Comment Who has the final say on whether this project will proceed?

Response Since the project is anticipated to be a NY State Highway and would be owned and maintained by the NYSDOT, it would be the responsibility of the NYSDOT to continue the design process. Whether or not the project proceeds is based the funding availability to continue the design process.


Comment Will the public get a chance to vote on whether this project will proceed or not?

Response

No. Since the project is anticipated to be a NY State Highway and would be owned and maintained by the NYSDOT, it would be the responsibility of the NYSDOT to continue the design process. Whether or not the project proceeds is based the funding availability to continue the design process. If the project does proceed, additional public involvement and public hearing processes will be conducted. Projects of this type are not typically subject to public referendum type votes.

General Comments received from Fulton County post August 19, 2015 Public Information Meeting No. 2:

FC-1 Comment received from Fulton County

Comment A more detailed analysis needs to be conducted on the existing route (NYS Route 30A) between Johnstown Industrial Park and Exit 28 of the NYS Thruway. Of all the input received, this comment was made more than any other. I’d like to discuss with you how this could be accomplished. Please call to discuss.

Response

Additional analysis for the existing route assessing the order of magnitude impacts to compare with the three (3) other alternatives is provided in Chapter 3, Section 3.4.2 in the Feasibility Study. Analysis items along the existing NY Route 30A that were progressed include:

1. Layout of proposed lane configurations related to traffic capacity needs based on the Regional Business Park Traffic Impact Study.

2. Analysis of the existing horizontal alignments and profile as related to NYSDOT standards. 3. Assessment of potential drainage and side slopes required. 4. Assessment of potential property impacts. 5. Potential / preliminary opinion of probable cost for the improvements along the existing route.

Environmental impacts were not progressed under this analysis at this study phase. Layout of all geometric lane configurations will follow the NYSDOT standards.

Existing information and analysis has been added to Chapter 3, Section 3.4.2 in the Feasibility Study. A comparison table has been created in this section comparing only the items listed above between the existing route analysis and the three (3) other feasible alternatives. The information provided in this sections is only for comparison purposes based on p[public comments and that updating the existing route does not satisfy the project needs, goals and objectives and therefore is not feasible.




Comment

Numerous comments were made regarding impacts the three (3) feasible routes could have on the Fonda-Fultonville School. I think it would be helpful for the Feasibility Study to identify those potential impacts for each alternative route. For example, for each alternative, a horizontal distance between the route and closest boundary of the School property could be identified. It would be helpful to have existing traffic counts on the access road in front of the School. This data could provide as a baseline for assessing traffic impacts on the School. This data would indicate the volume of traffic that’s currently going back and forth in front of the School.

Response

A physical separation distance to the school property from the centerline of proposed roadway will be provided in the report. Separation distance from the nearest state highway facility will also be documented for comparison. The nearest State Highway Facility to the Fonda-Fultonville School is NY Route 5. There are no current standards that could be located related to required separation distances from schools to state highway facilities. Therefore, a comparison to the closest state highway facility (NY Route 5) was performed.

The separation distances (measured from the centerline of the proposed feasible roadway to the school property) were based on numerous factors including environmental impacts, impacts and acquisition of residential properties in the vicinity of the school and providing separation distances greater than the nearest existing State Highway facility. The separation distances to the nearest school property line and school facility building were compared to the existing separation distance to the nearest State Highway facility (NY Route 5). The information below is a summary of those findings:

Alternative Min. Distance to nearest Property Line Min. Distance to nearest school building

B 483 ft (0.09 miles) 1,100 ft (0.21 miles) E1 2,160 ft (0.41 miles) 3,630 ft (0.69 miles) F1 1,980 ft (0.38 miles) 3,170 ft (0.60 miles) NY Route 5 154 ft (0.03 miles) 847 ft (0.16 miles)

A figure depicting the distances shown above is included in Chapter 3, Section 3.5.

All feasible alternatives are located further away from the Fonda-Fultonville school as compared to the nearest existing NY State Highway facility.

Assessment of traffic counts in front of the Fonda-Fultonville Central School to determine volume of traffic in front of the school would be progressed in the preliminary design phase of the project.


Comment

A comment was made regarding the finding in the Traffic Impact Study MJ Engineering completed for the Regional Business Park. The commenter indicated that the Traffic Impact Study stated that major improvements to the existing Route 30 corridor could not be made due to the impacts on property owners and costs. The commenter then questioned how this conclusion could be drawn given that those costs were likely far less than what the cost to be incurred for constructing one of the connector routes. This comment needs to be addressed.

Response

The term feasibility does not necessarily correlate to lowest cost. There are many factors that are needed to determine if an alternative is feasible. Also, to clarify, the term feasibility as mentioned in the DRAFT Fonda Connector Feasibility Study refers to alternatives that were examined, meet or partially meet the project needs/goals and were determined to be warranted for further study and analysis and does not imply that the alternatives are feasible for construction. This terminology / definition has been added to the Feasibility Study Report. Further analysis and engineering is required in the next design phases of the project in order to make a final determination if an alternative is feasible for construction.

The Regional Business Park Traffic Impact Study Report investigates a threshold capacity analysis for three (3) types of potential development at the Regional Business Park site and analyzes the potential traffic capacity impacts on the existing route for each option.

The Regional Business Park Traffic Impact Study itself does not specifically analyze or quantify property or environmental impacts, etc., which are some of the items necessary in order to determine the feasibility of an alternative. Again, the Regional Business Park Traffic Impact Study only analyzes traffic capacity along the existing



route based on potential development at the Regional Business Park site.

The DRAFT Fonda Connector Feasibility Study assesses alternate routes to address the project needs and goals. One of those goals is to reduce tractor-trailer traffic though the Village of Fultonville, Village of Fonda and along the existing route. The Regional Business Park Traffic Impact Study analyzes the impacts on the existing route due to potential development at the Regional Business Park site.

Since the goals of these two (2) studies are different, the conclusions of the reports should not be compared on a side-by-side basis.


Comment

There were several comments made about the traffic study done as part of the Feasibility Study. Several commenter’s claimed that the times of the day that the traffic counts were taken were inappropriate and incorrect. Other claimed that the traffic counts did not include many of the buses that go back and forth to Fonda-Fultonville since many of the buses were not running during the times that the traffic counts were taken. Some claimed traffic volumes were under counted. Other claimed that the traffic counts that were based upon the two (2) peak hours when counts were taken over exaggerated the actual amount of traffic on existing roads. The Final Feasibility Study needs to include narrative that addresses these comments. For example, a narrative should be added explaining why the hours that were used to conduct traffic counts were selected. No additional research needs to be conducted other than explaining why things were done the way they were in conducting the traffic study.

Response

Traffic count times were determined based on available historic traffic volume data that was obtained from the NYSDOT Traffic Data Viewer for the corridor from I-90 Thruway Exit 28 to the Johnstown Industrial Park. This data was collected using Automatic Traffic Recorders (ATR’s) that consist of pneumatic tubes placed across the roadway to provide axle counts. This data is typically presented in one (1) hour increments for a duration of between four (4) to seven (7) days. This historic data was used in establishing the peak am and pm hours for this study.

Traffic reference materials that were used for guidance to obtain the traffic count time frames include:

1. The NYSDOT Highway Design Manual, Chapter 5 – This manual outlines the standards, methods and references utilized to collect data for traffic studies.

Chapter 5, Section 5.2.1.1 – Data Acquisition Methods contains reference to Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Traffic Engineering Handbook, 6th Edition regarding data collection for traffic analyses.

Chapter 5, Section 5.2.1.3.B – Data Requirements states that traffic flow diagrams containing traffic data collected and utilized for capacity or level of service analyses should be developed for commuter travel periods (e.g., AM or PM peak hours)

2. Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Traffic Engineering Handbook, 6th Edition - This manual provides industry standard procedures and standards to collect data for traffic studies.

Chapter 8, Section III.A.2 – provides details on duration of counts that are typically 1, 2, 4 or 11-hour counts. Four (4) hour counts typically cover both peak periods of the day.

Industry standards have evolved over the years and it has been adopted by traffic engineers that traffic data utilized for analyses should represent a typical day of the year. This would include a period of good weather that does not adversely affect driving behavior and when traffic patterns are not affected by increased volumes due to holiday travel. Data collection should also include all modes of transportation that use the project area including school buses and associated traffic.

Traffic data was collected in May 2014.

Based on the traffic references above, traffic patterns within the study area were considered to be normal from Monday afternoon through Friday morning. The available historic traffic volume hourly data was analyzed to determine the times of the day that the peak volumes occur within the study area.

Peak volumes typically occur during the morning and afternoon commuting periods. The analysis of the record data for the study area demonstrated that the peak hour volumes occurred from 7:00 am to 9:00 am and 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on the major roads within the study area.



Per the ITE Traffic Engineering Handbook, 6th Edition, a minimum of two (2) hours of traffic turning movements were counted at the intersection locations noted in the report. In addition to the intersection traffic counts, ATR’s were installed at the locations noted in the report and recorded data for a period of seven (7) days. The peak hours were confirmed by the ATR information collected.

An explanation of NYSDOT standards for traffic studies has been included in Section 2.4.1.6 – Existing Traffic Volumes of the Feasibility Study. The traffic collection and future traffic projection methodology selected is consistent with the design references noted above.

School Bus Traffic:

The established AM peak hour is from 7:15 to 8:15 am and the PM peak hour is from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. School bus traffic was included in the turning movement count as a subset of the overall volumes. School bus traffic accounted for the following percentages of overall traffic in peak hours:

AM peak hour: 4.2% (58 buses) of the overall volume (1396 vehicles) travelling through the NYS Route 5 and Cemetery Road intersection.

PM peak hour: 0.3% (5 school buses) of the overall volume (1677 vehicles) travelling through travelling through the NYS Route 5 and Cemetery Road intersection.

The overall PM peak volume is 280 +/- vehicles higher than the AM peak volume. The Automatic Traffic Recorder that was installed on NY Route 5 between Cemetery Road and Bridge Street shows that the overall volumes on NY Route 5 are 70 +/- vehicles higher during the established PM peak hour from 4:00 to 5:00 pm than the two previous hours, verifying that the established PM peak hour is correct.

The average Level of Service for this intersection is LOS A for both peak hours. A review of this data shows that school bus traffic is not a factor in the traffic analysis regarding Level of Service.


Comment

Accident rates: A question was raised on the accuracy of the accident data in the report. The commenter stated that the accident data needs to be looked at more carefully with respect to the days and times of the day these accidents are occurring. It was suggested that most of the accidents along the Route 30A corridor are associated with the weekly races at Fonda Speedway and the Fonda Fair. I suggest MJ Engineering look at the accident data and see if it can be categorized by day of the week and time of the day the accidents involving trucks occurred. If this could be done, it may shed some light on whether this theory of most traffic accidents being associated with the Fonda Speedway is the cause of these accidents and not necessarily the alignment or geometry of the existing Route 30A corridor.

Response

A correlation of the dates and times of the accidents in the study area with scheduled races at the Fonda Speedway has been included in the Feasibility Study Report, Section 2.4.1.8 – Safety Considerations, Accident History and Analysis.

The accident data was obtained from 8/1/2010 thru 7/31/2013. Currently the Fonda Speedway Schedule is available from 6/4/2011 thru 7/31/2013 from the Speedway website.


Comment The final report will need to address the one (1) comment made by several speakers that Alternate B does not address the goals and objectives of the Study, which is to eliminate tractor trailer traffic in the Village of Fonda

Response

As stated on the Feasibility Study, the objectives of the study are to:

1. Identify and assess alternative routes that may provide a cost-effective, safe and more efficient vehicular connection from I-90 Interchange 28 to the various commercial and industrial areas located in Montgomery and Fulton Counties.” Alternative B satisfies this objective.

2. Assess alternatives that meet the project objectives, and evaluate potential impacts and benefits of the alternative routes as well as improve the overall environmental quality of life for the residents and business



owners for the Villages and Towns affected by the existing truck traffic. Alternative B satisfies this objective.

The goals of the study are to:

1. Identify a more efficient route for tractor trailers to use between the NYS Thruway Interchange 28 and the Johnstown Industrial Park that would:

a. Minimize stop-and-go travel for tractor-trailers traveling to and from the Johnstown Industrial Park. b. Reduce (not eliminate) tractor-trailer traffic through the Villages of Fonda, Fultonville and along the

existing route. This specific goal is partially satisfied for Alternative B. Alternative B tractor trailer traffic use is expected to be dramatically reduced thru the Village of Fonda and overall along the existing route. However, tractor-trailer traffic is not expected to be reduced though the Village of Fultonville for this alternative. The Village of Fultonville currently exhibits commercial zoning and is commercial in nature. Truck facility businesses currently exist along Riverside Drive and there are currently no residential properties from Interchange 28 to the bridge crossing the Mohawk River. Based on the zoning and nature of the existing use along Riverside Drive, Alternative B was deemed a feasible alternative that should be investigated further in the future design and investigation phases of the project.

2. Improve quality of life for the Village residents:

a. Reduce vehicular emissions & noise pollution b. Provide safer travel for vehicles and pedestrians

3. Identify potential economic development opportunities within vicinity of the proposed route.

Tractor trailer traffic thru the Village of Fonda cannot be eliminated. There are destinations west on NY Route 5 and some points along the existing route that will still require tractor-trailer traffic to travel thru the Village of Fonda. In no case, for any alternative presented, will tractor-trailer traffic be eliminated, but rather reduced to varying degrees based on the proposed alternative. Overall, tractor trailer volumes from Interchange 28 to the Johnstown Industrial Park will be reduced as a result of Alternative B.

Each feasible alternative presented satisfies the project objectives and goals to varying degrees. Alternatives E1 and F1 will provide an increased reduction of tractor-trailer traffic through the existing corridor as compared to Alternative B.

Percent reduction of tractor-trailer traffic has been included in Chapter 3, Table 3-11 of the FINAL Feasibility Study.

CHAPTER 6 SUMMARY OF COMMENTS RECEIVED 6.1 Summary … · Fonda Connector – Fulton & Montgomery...

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