In December 2022, voters approved a proposal to build a new Voorheesville Central School District bus garage on the south side of Martin Road, adjacent to the existing high school/middle school property. To explore the impact, if any, the facility will have on area traffic, the district hired GTS Consulting, a traffic engineering and transportation firm.
GTS Consulting has found:
- The additional traffic generated by the proposed bus garage will have no notable or significant impact on traffic operations on Martin Road or the New Salem Road intersection.
- There are adequate gaps in traffic to accommodate turning movements into and out of the garage, good sight lines for safe access and no capacity concerns.
- The existing pavement width on Martin Road is more than adequate to accommodate the bus garage traffic. The additional traffic is not anticipated to impact existing pavement conditions significantly.
GTS noted that the southern radius at the Martin Road/New Salem Road intersection should be expanded to accommodate buses turning right onto New Salem Road without impacting northbound through traffic. VCSD Superintendent Frank Macri is in contact with the New York State Department of Transportation about the steps required to expand the Martin Road/New Salem Road intersection.
No other mitigation measures are recommended in the report, which is available to the public online. If you have any trouble accessing the report please contact the district office at 518-765-3313 to request a copy.
The proposed facility would include parking spaces for 17 full-size buses, 17 half-size buses and seven passenger cars. Access is proposed via three full-access driveways to Martin Road. The traffic study included several scope items, such as site visits (to collect existing turning movement counts) at the intersections; traffic counts during the morning peak period and afternoon peak period (based on bus schedules); spot speed measurements to determine operating speeds in the area; sight distance measurements to confirm adequate sight lines for safe ingress and egress; operational data including roadway geometry, speed limits and traffic control; and roadway width and pavement conditions.