The Jogging Jeweler

|Main St streetscape improvements in Dobbs Ferry |

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council has opened a public comment period through 4 p.m. on Friday for street and sidewalk improvements as well as Metro-North railroad bridge projects throughout Westchester and Rockland counties.

The state proposes amendments to the Federal Fiscal Years 2017-2021 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The comment period provides an opportunity for public feedback on the proposed changes to the TIP.

They are looking for comments regarding the following areas in the Rivertowns:

• Beekman Avenue pedestrian improvements in Sleepy Hollow
• Main Street streetscape improvements in the Village of Dobbs Ferry
• Main & River Streets/ Metro-North Railroad bridge steel rehabilitation in the Village of Tarrytown
• Main & Wildey Streets over the Metro-North Railroad bridge rehabilitation, Village of Tarrytown

Source: http://rivertowns.dailyvoice.com/news/state-seeks-public-comments-on-pedestrian-streetscape-in-dobbs-ferry/704562/

THIS is an opportunity to make a difference, but let's be purposeful in our comments as they are in regard to ADA Compliance specifically - meaning wheelchair, handicap, and disabled accessibility. Think of the sidewalks and curbs along Main St - are they accessible to people in wheelchairs, with walkers, the blind, or others with disabilities? 

Specifics we can comment on:

1. The Intersection of Chestnut and Main St (as pictured below) does not have ramps available from all directions. Forcing people into oncoming traffic to use a ramp facing another direction to enter the sidewalk.
   

2. The intersection of Main St/ Livingston/ Walnut has a similar issue - a lack of ramps, again forcing people into oncoming traffic to enter the sidewalk without a curb. 

3. Also - given the opportunity to raise awareness to pedestrian safety issues within the Village the lack of crosswalks along Main St should be raised as well. Technically - we have ONE crosswalk on Main St - at the corner of Chestnut & Main. The next is at the Livingston/Walmut intersection. Neither of these crosswalks aid the portion of Main St that currently has the most foot traffic - the area between Cedar & Chestnut. Where clients to Sams, Readers, The Post Office, Home Again, Gary's Pharmacy, The Beauty Parlor, and many, many more!

Why does sending in comments help?

Comments are incorporated into notes about each project, and sent out with the ballot to the voting members of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, members can choose whether or not to react to those comments.  The voting members of the Metropolitan Planning Organization have 5 days to vote, after which projects are added to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

If you would like to comment:

Comments are due in writing by 4 p.m. on Friday, March 24 to: 

or, by emailing: Oluseye.Folarin@dot.ny.gov

P.S. - I plan to run Main St., up one side and down another, this afternoon to post a video tonight regarding Main St that we can share in our emails to NYDOT. If you know of more places along Main St that are questionable to ADA Compliance PLEASE COMMENT - that way others who may feel motivated to send an email in the next 24 hours can include those things!