Letter to the Editor: Roundabout Makes Sense for Downtown Ossining

To the Editor:

There’s a lot misinformation being circulated regarding the roundabout that's coming this summer to the heart of downtown Ossining. With this letter I will attempt to clarify the roundabout facts in a direct and concise way.

The roundabout in the heart of downtown Ossining will save money long-term, be safer for pedestrians, calm traffic while improving flow, be environmentally friendly, and expand sidewalks inviting greater seating, greenery and public gathering spaces.

More than two years ago we were asked by our Village staff, those folks who have the day-to-day responsibility to maintain our roads and sidewalks, to fund the much needed and long overdue improvement to our aging infrastructure at the five-way intersection in the center of our downtown. We started looking at what was needed to make all the improvements to the lights, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, ADA upgrades, parking, and traffic flow for cars, trucks and first-responder vehicles.

As is our fiduciary responsibility, we wanted to look at various options and funding needed in the short and long-term. The concept of a roundabout that is right-sized for our downtown became a viable alternative to a conventional signal intersection. Here’s why. Roundabouts eliminate long-term expenses related to upgrades in traffic light technologies. Roundabouts provide better and safer traffic flow for cars, save gas, and reduce carbon emissions. Roundabouts provide crosswalks that are safer for pedestrians (which include ADA enhancements). Roundabouts also provide opportunities to expand seating and open space, furthering the community’s place-making goals. This particular design alters the parking a bit, but in fact there will be a net increase in spots.

I appreciate citizen engagement and passion about the future of our great Village. The referendum might sound attractive to some, but it will cost additional taxpayer dollars. Paying for a single-issue-off-season election costs thousands of dollars itself. If sufficient legitimate signatures are collected, the Village will immediately halt preparations for the construction to begin this summer on the roundabout. That idea is very appealing to some people. But if the result of the referendum is that the funding stays in place, we will have lost weeks in preparing to ensure smooth management of a major infrastructure project in our downtown. If the result of the referendum is to de-fund the project, it means there will be no upgrade to that intersection this summer at all. And likely we will be stuck with a sub-standard intersection for a couple of years. By the time we do go out for a bond to do the upgrade, interest rates and construction costs will almost assuredly be higher than they are today.

Some have expressed concern about truck and first-responder vehicles.

In the past year and a half since consideration of a roundabout was introduced, Village staff and elected officials have met with numerous stakeholders in the community including business owners, residents, engineers, and Ossining’s Office of Emergency Management team which includes representatives from OFD, OPD, OVAC and relevant department heads. The fire chiefs provided the specifications of our largest apparatus to ensure there is ample room for all vehicles during an emergency. The design engineer also confirmed that large trailers can navigate the roundabout without any trouble.

During this time, there have been no less than ten public meetings where the intersection design has been on the formal agenda. More often than not, these meetings invited public input from community members including representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, the Chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, and local business owners. Additionally, the Trustees have spent numerous hours in their roles as liaisons, and individually, meeting with the public both in person and by email. In my case, I also hold Open Office hours every Tuesday from 10am-12noon. The Interim Village Manager and the Board are happy to continue to do so as needed.

Regardless of which option we chose, we understand that any infrastructure upgrade means there will be an inconvenience to traffic downtown for pedestrians, cars, commuters, and businesses during construction. The project is scheduled to take place in the summer when there is the least disruption caused by weather, and the lightest road usage from school buses and commuter traffic.

At the February 22 Work Session, Interim Village Manager and Village Engineer Paul Fraioli will provide us with information about logistics for the construction phase. Meanwhile, we have created a page on the Village website with information and linksaddressing some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the roundabout. That page will continue to be updated so that it may be a go-to resource for the community.

The current five corners intersection at the heart of our downtown needs an upgrade. The roundabout in this location will:

• Save money long-term;
• Be safer for pedestrians;
• Calm traffic while improving flow;
• Be environmentally friendly; and
• Expand sidewalks, inviting greater seating, greenery and public gathering spaces.

So before you sign a petition, please consider the real cost in taxpayer dollars if this effort to obstruct progress succeeds. When people learn the facts, I hope the passionate and practical people of Ossining will choose to support moving forward with an intersection that is safer, expands public gathering space, and saves money. Given that the alternative is to waste money now, waste money later, and have a sub-standard intersection for another year or two at the heart of our downtown, the choice is clear.

Victoria Gearity

Mayor