Bethlehem officials are looking to make investments in the Delaware Avenue corridor to improve the street and attract a steady stream of customers to Bethlehem businesses from the City of Albany.
Supervisor John Clarkson held a third community meeting on Monday, April 15, at the Elsmere Fire Station for Elsmere and Delmar residents, and the streetscape upgrades were discussed. Officials focused on improvements they’d like to see come to fruition in the near future that were outlined in the Delaware Avenue Hamlet Enhancement Study.
“I’m very committed to providing for this investment,” said Clarkson to a group of about 30 people. “Interest rates are low, Delaware Avenue is the town’s main street and I think it makes very good sense to invest at this time.”
Suggestions made in the plan include upgrades to sidewalks and the addition of bicycle lanes, as well as decorative lighting and better landscaping along the road.
Town Director of Economic Development and Planning Mike Morelli said the town may soon be using some of the aesthetic suggestions in the study as guidelines for private proper ty owners. Officials would work with business owners to start slowly implementing the plan through code changes. Some ideas include requiring business signs to be more relative to their trade or instituting “hamlet” signs that overhang buildings. Officials would also like to see parking in the rear of buildings, entrances placed towards the front of buildings so they are more visible from the street and wider setbacks from the street to allow for outdoor cafes or courtyards.
The study also calls for the beautification of the railroad overpass to act as a gateway to the town. A partnership with the school district was suggested to have a mural painted by art students on one side of the overpass, with trees and a garden are placed on the other.
If such changes were to be made, the Town Board would need to approve changes to the zoning code.
Delaware Avenue, along with all of the major roads in town, is state owned. Last February, town officials had said implementation of the project’s major points were 10 years away since the estimated cost was $2.5 million. The town is now working with the state Depar tment of Transportation to see if the state would be willing to pay for some “preservative” aspects of the plan, while the town pays for beautification. The cost to the town would then be about $1.7 million.
“However, the state is in preservation mode itself, so we’ll see,” said Morelli.
Other projects along Delaware Avenue include a state DOT project to change the traffic pattern at the intersection of Elsmere and Delaware avenues. The changes are being made because of the intersection’s accident history.
The plan would see the roadway changed from two lanes of traffic going to and from Albany, to two lanes of traffics heading toward Albany and one lane of traffic heading toward Delmar. The third lane would be turned into a dedicated left-turning lane in the center. Work is set to begin this summer.
Officials are also in discussion with the DOT to increase safety at the Delaware Avenue crosswalk to Elsmere Elementary School.
A previous meeting was held in January between town officials, school parents and staff to discuss the issue. Ideas
ranged from installing costly beacons and signs to help alert drivers of the need to stop when students are using the crosswalk, to lowering the speed limit along the road. The speed limit is currently 40 mph along much of Delaware, and 30 mph in the school zone. However, it goes back up to 40 mph for a short distance before being lowered again once drivers get closer to the Four Corners.
Clarkson said through meetings with the DOT, it appears the favorite option of the state is to no longer have students use the crosswalk near the school, but have them walk up Delaware, cross at Elsmere Avenue, turn left at Herrick Avenue, and place a sidewalk and a crosswalk along Herrick.
Some residents at the meeting feared students would cut across the parking lots of Community Care Physicians and Berkshire Bank to shorten the length of the walk. Elsmere Principal Kate Kloss said she was sure the students could learn to properly cross the street if changes were made, but time and additional instruction would be needed.
Clarkson said he is working with the DOT to see if the speed limit can be lowered. He would like to see it lowered to 30 mph with no dip for the school zone. This would make the walk to school safer and not confuse drivers, he argued. When asked, nearly all residents at the meeting raised their hand to say they would be in favor of the change.
Councilwoman Joann Dawson said she would like to see greater enforcement of the speed limit in school zones as a deterrent.
“If they get a few tickets, they’re going to slow down,” she said.
Officials also discussed the Safe Route to Schools Campaign. A grant of $500,000 was awarded to the town and school district through the federal program. The money will be used to install sidewalks, ramps and crosswalk markings along portions of Fernbank Avenue, Delmar Place and Adams Street.
A community meeting for Slingerlands residents will be held on Monday, April 29, at 7 p.m., at the Community United Methodist Church, 1499 New Scotland Road.