BY ADAM ATKINSONNorth Country This Week

POTSDAM — The village is partnering with the town to pursue almost $200,000 in grant funding to develop a comprehensive safety action plan for local roads and streets.

The village board approved a resolution to submit a joint application for the funding at its meeting Aug. 19.

At the same meeting, two members of the public raised concerns about crosswalk safety and traffic speeds in the village, somewhat highlighting the need for a plan.   

If secured, the grant the two municipalities are applying for would bring $198,210 to the community to develop the plan. The funding would come from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All Planning and Demonstration Grant Program.

The village and town would have to contribute a local match of $39,010.

The village portion of that match would be built from $10,945 from the general fund budget and $12,734 in in-kind staff and volunteer time.

The town board passed a resolution at its meeting Aug. 13 in support of pursuing the grant with the village. The town’s local share would consist of $5,285 from the general fund and $6,366 in kind services and volunteer time.

Village Mayor Alexandra Jacobs Wilke said at the top of the meeting that the funding opportunity was one she learned about at the Champion’s Initiative that she participated in in 2020 when she was still a village trustee.

“This is planning funding that if successful we would partner with the town of Potsdam,” Wilke said. “We would put together a safety action plan which would identify ways to make our roads safer and more accessible for all, which is badly needed.”

“It’s something I’ve been very interested in for quite a long time,” she said. “By pursuing this process we would also be able to undertake some really cool demonstration projects, working closely with the New York State Department of Transportation, which is critical because they have the ultimate say on many of the major thoroughfares through our village and in the town outside.”

Crosswalk concerns

During the village board’s public comment section, two members of the public raised concerns about pedestrian safety on village streets and crosswalks, especially near the school buildings, and in the side street neighborhoods.

Casey T. Grev, who lives on Grant Street with his wife and child, told the board that had emailed board members in an effort to make the crosswalks safer all across Potsdam, but particularly at the intersection of Elm and Grant and the four crosswalks on Lawrence Avenue. “But I will say the ones of most concern are those closest to Potsdam Elementary,” Grev said.  

“We’ve been struggling to get people to stop at all of these crosswalks. I’ve taken to waving, jumping and screaming to try to get drivers’ attention to stop for us without success,” Grev told the board. “What can we do to try to make these crosswalks safer for us and our children?”

Grev suggested more crosswalk monitors around school dismissal and arrival times.

“I must say that I’ve gotten really aggressive with asserting my space as a crosswalk user,” Grev said, adding that various fingers have been gestured at him in return.

Grev suggested all way stops, narrowing the roadways, and speed bumps or rumble strips.

William Eckert, who lives on Chestnut Street with his family, shared similar concerns. Eckert also said that in his neighborhood, like many other relatively quiet corners of the community, children often play near or on the street.

“We’ve found that a lot of semis (18-wheeler trucks) have been using Chestnut Street as a roundabout to get around the traffic lights,” Eckert said. “So I’ll be sitting down and watching 18-wheelers come down Chestnut street, you know, knocking the trees and things of that nature.”

Eckert said the trucks are often driving about 30 miles per hour when they are traveling down the street. He said last year, a hauling truck drove down the road with several residents yelling for it to stop, before it hung a right turn off the street and knocked over a pedestrian sign in the process.

Eckert asked if there were ways to limit the traffic of large trucks down the road.

Village Code Enforcer Greg Thompson suggested that the village could use weight limit restrictions for the road.

During discussion of the crosswalk and traffic issue, it was suggested that more crossing guards could be posted at the intersections where children and pedestrians cross at certain times.

Mayor Wilke said she agreed that the concerns were issues the village must address.

“Even if we are not successful with this grant, it is something we have to tackle,” Wilke said. “The nice thing about this is that it will allow us to open up conversations (about) safety and these kinds of things,” she said.