The Syracuse Common Council will vote next week on a proposal to increase pedestrian safety throughout the city by adding signage and new crosswalks, councilors said at a Wednesday study session.

The city is working with the New York State Department of Transportation to make improvements to pedestrian intersections, said city engineer Mary Robison. The engineering department has identified 88 uncontrolled intersections and 60 signalized intersections where they plan to add signs, crosswalks, supervised crossing or rapid flashing beacons, she said. Many of these areas are high-pedestrian areas downtown and near Syracuse University.

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She said the project would cost the city no more $326,000, which is only enough money to improve 60 of the 300 pedestrian intersections in the city.

Some councilors said city residents have been complaining to them about one traffic light in particular, at the intersection of West Onondaga and South Geddes streets. The light was changed from flashing for both directions to a solid light on South Geddes Street, which is on a hill.

Robison said because South Geddes Street is on a hill, the city was concerned about cars stopping safely in the winter. Councilor Susan Boyle, of the 3rd district, said many residents have complained to her about the intersection.

Along with pedestrian safety, the Syracuse Fire Department is asking permission to apply for a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that would provide funds to purchase more fire trucks.

Syracuse Fire Chief Michael Monds said the department’s fleet is dwindling, with two of three spare vehicles currently out of commission.

The department would like to purchase three more vehicles. Monds said a fire engine typically costs about $750,000, and the city would only have to pay 10 percent of that price, if awarded the grant.

Other business

Mayor Ben Walsh’s administration is asking councilors to approve an increase in both the license fee for snow removal contractors and the fine for contractors who are not licensed.

Corey Dunham, the city’s director of operations, said the mayor’s office wants to amend the fees to ensure that only properly licensed contractors are operating on city streets.

If the legislation is passed, contractors would pay $250 for one truck license and $50 for each subsequent truck. The fine for unlicensed trucks would increase from $150 to $350.

Boyle said some of her constituents have said these additional fees would hurt their business.
The price of snow plowing for city residents will go up if the penalty amount increases, she added.

Councilor at-large Steve Thompson said the city requires contractors to have licenses so that contractors can be held accountable. He said the penalty amount should go up because it will serve as an incentive to buy licenses.

The police department issued about a dozen tickets to trucks without licenses, Dunham said.

Common Council President Helen Hudson said it seems unbalanced to allow large companies to pay the same amount as small businesses.

Dunham said the licensing fee is not intended to be a “money grab,” but instead is meant to compensate for the amount of time the police department spends patrolling the contractors.

Published on October 17, 2018 at 9:56 pm

Contact Dakota: dapalmer@syr.edu