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Canton town board discusses proposed revision to speed limit change law that could cost them thousands

Posted 3/19/18

By ADAM ATKINSON CANTON -- A proposed Assembly bill that would alter how speed limit change requests are handled could mean a huge expense for the town with no guarantee of approval of such requests …

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Canton town board discusses proposed revision to speed limit change law that could cost them thousands

Posted

By ADAM ATKINSON

CANTON -- A proposed Assembly bill that would alter how speed limit change requests are handled could mean a huge expense for the town with no guarantee of approval of such requests by the state.

The topic was brought up at the Canton town board meeting Wednesday, March 14, when the board discussed reducing the State Street Road limit from 55 mph in light of the recent development there.

Installation of new school sports fields and development at the United Helpers facility and other areas has led to increased local foot traffic along the road. “Fifty-five seems crazy to me,” said Town Councilman Tim Danehy, who brought up the need for a reduced speed on the roadway.

Under current law, municipalities can forward their request for a speed limit change to the state Department of Transportation. The DOT then conducts an engineering study of the request and then decides to approve or not to approve.

The Assembly bill, similar to one recently passed in the state Senate, would require towns with populations less than 50,000 to fund the study themselves, sometimes at a cost of up to $10,000. The DOT would then review the study and could at that time choose to still not approve the request, saddling the municipality with a huge expense and no positive outcome.

During the discussion, Town Councilman Bob Washo said he felt the shift of the engineering study expense for speed limit changes onto local municipalities proposed in the bill is basically a way for the state to stymie speed change requests.

“The process isn’t much different except that its going to cost the local municipalities more money,” Washo said. “We have financial responsibilty, but its still up to (the state) to say yes or no. . . It cuts down on us even asking because we are going to have to go and spend a potential $10,000 to have a study done.”

Washo said that part of the problem for local governments trying to get a study done is that there are no local engineering firms accredited to do the work, leading small town governments to seek more expensive engineering services from urban locales.

The board tabled further discussion on the issue.

The Potsdam town council, debating similar questions, is sending a letter to local Assemblywoman Addie Jenne requesting clarification of the Assembly bill.