Public Workshop #1 City of Cohoes Van Schaick Island ... · Project Goal 1 • Advance current...

City of Cohoes Van Schaick Island Transportation and RevitalizatCity of Cohoes Van Schaick Island Transportation and Revitalization Workshopion Workshop

Capital District Transportation

Committee

City of Cohoes Van Schaick Island Transportation City of Cohoes Van Schaick Island Transportation and Revitalizationand Revitalization

Sponsored by The Capital District Transportation Committee and The City of Cohoes

Public Workshop #1



Committee

Agenda

– Opening Remarks– Presentation– “Dot” Exercise– Report Back– Wrap up



Committee

Study Schedule / Process

Schedule• 7 month study period• Project was initiated

March 2007• Study will be

completed in early Fall 2007

ProcessProject CoordinationInventory Existing Conditions1st Public Workshop

• Alternatives & Analysis• 2nd Public Workshop• Develop Plan• Public Comment• Final Recommendations



Committee

Study Advisory Committee

• City of Cohoes• Albany County• Capital District Transportation Committee• Capital District Transportation Authority• New York State Department of Transportation



Committee

Study Area

The study area includes Simmons and Van Schaick Islands, with the primary focus on Ontario Street.



Committee

Project Goal 1

• Advance current vision of waterfront revitalization

Present and future residential development along the Delaware Avenue waterfront is in line with the City’s current vision of the waterfront.



Committee

Project Goal 2

• Define future traffic management plan

Ontario Street is the main through way for Island traffic. Side street traffic may currently experience delays during the AM and PM peak hours due to the high volume of traffic on Ontario Street.



Committee

Project Goal 3

• Identify potential transit and multi-modal nodes

There are several nearby bus routes, but there is no bus service on the Islands. The closest bus route is 1/2 mile from the center of the Island.

Current CDTA map of existing transit routes.



Committee

Project Goal 4

• Identify linkages to Bike Hike Trails

Existing map of bike/hike trails

Pedestrians and bicyclists sharing Delaware Avenue with vehicles highlighting the need for a dedicated multi-use path on the island.



Committee

Project Goal 5

• Enhance commercial activity along Ontario Street

Ontario Street is home to a number of local walk-up and some auto-oriented businesses. New development on the Island will put a larger population within a short distance of Ontario Street creating a stronger retail market.



Committee

Project Goal 6

• Involve the public in the process

Good planning comes from the community. The public has a right to comment and influence decisions.



Committee

Traffic and Streetscape Overview

• The Corridor– Gateway – The first impression– Streetscape – Roads, Sidewalks, and Lighting

• Traffic Volume• Primary Intersections• Possibilities



Committee

Existing Gateways

The view of Ontario Street from Lansingburgh. Decorative lighting, well maintained sidewalks and a large sign let visitors know that they have entered Cohoes.



Committee

Existing Gateways

View of Ontario Street from downtown Cohoes. Lacks consistent theme.



Committee

Existing Streetscape

Ontario Street is approximately 60 feet wide, 40 ft of roadway and 7-10 ft sidewalk area. The roadway provides one travel lane in each direction with on-street parking on both sides. There are few trees and no amenities such as benches, or bike racks.

40 feet60 feet +/-



Committee

Streetscape Examples

Delmar, New York

Concept

Saugerties, New York

Having a consistent maintenance strip, decorative lighting and street benches all add to create an attractive streetscape.



Committee

Existing Traffic VolumesOntario Street - August 2004

0100200300400500600700800

12:0

0 A

M

2:00

AM

4:00

AM

6:00

AM

8:00

AM

10:0

0 A

M

12:0

0 P

M

2:00

PM

4:00

PM

6:00

PM

8:00

PM

10:0

0 P

M

Time

Volume

EBWB

AADT= 13,000 vehicles per day

vehi

cles

per

hou

r



Committee

Existing Primary Intersections

* Page Avenue/ Kosciusko Avenue* Park Avenue/Ontario Street

There are two signalized intersections within the study area. Both have single indicators supported by utility poles. They are older two-phase pre-timed signals that lack pedestrian accommodations and ADA ramps.



Committee

Traffic Signal Example

Signal Concept – Troy NY



Committee

Existing Primary Intersections

Intersection of Ontario and Delaware

High volume unsignalized intersection on Van Schaick Island. A traffic signal is planned as part of an approved project.



Committee

Possibilities



Committee

Revitalization and Land Use Overview

• Zoning

• Current Land Use

• Environmental Constraints

• Pending Projects

• Opportunity Sites



Committee

New in 2006

• Waterfront Mixed-Use

• Mixed-use along Ontario

Zoning



Committee

• Variety of complementary uses

• Generally consistent with Zoning

Existing Land Use



Committee

Existing Land Use – Ontario Street Mix of Pedestrian and Auto-Oriented Commercial

New development on the Island will put a larger population within walking or bicycling distance or a short hop by car, creating a stronger retail market. A balance between pedestrian and auto-oriented businesses needs to be maintained on the Island in order for retail and other important services to flourish.



Committee

Existing Land Use - Residential

Van Schaick Island includes a diversity of types, sizes, and prices of rental and owner-occupied housing. Most housing is well-maintained, although there are exceptions on Ontario Street where traffic noise, building age, and conflicts with commercial uses create difficulties.



Committee

Existing Land Use - Recreation

The Island is home to a city park, a public golf course and a steadily expanding network of walking and bicycling trails. Easy and direct access to these assets right from a resident’s front door contributes significantly to the quality of life on the Island.



Committee

Environmental Constraints• Slopes

– Not a significant issue• Wetlands

– Not a significant issue• Floodplains

– Some areas of A-11 designation along Hudson River waterfront

• Brownfields– Project by project process



Committee

Waterfront residential projects

• Admiral’s Walk

• Captain’s Lookout

• Water’s View

Pending Projects



Committee

Existing Land Use – Opportunity Sites

Lot across from St. Michael’s

Former bakery site

U-Haul site



Committee

Land Use Ideas and Examples

What is possible?• Retail• New types of residential – Condo, Lofts,

Residential over Commercial on Ontario• Office and employment• Restaurants• The types of buildings and densities will support

these uses• Trails• Recreational facilities



Committee

Island Positives

Walkable streetsConnecting sidewalks

Dense populationCompact design

Homes near stores Good proximity of uses

Mix of housing typesGood mix of rental and owner-occupied housing

Shared public spaceWell maintained park



Committee

What do you think?• Displays around the room, each

highlighting a planning issue

• Review information on the boards, ask questions of consulting team or committee

• Place stickers in boxes to tell us what you think

• Regroup for summary and questions at 8:00



Committee

Thank You

For more information about the study contact

Tom JohnsonCreighton Manning Engineering

17 Computer Drive WestAlbany, NY 12205

(518) [email protected]

Public Workshop #1 City of Cohoes Van Schaick Island ... · Project Goal 1 • Advance current...

Documents

Transcript of Public Workshop #1 City of Cohoes Van Schaick Island ... · Project Goal 1 • Advance current...