Referred to: The Public Works and Capital Projects Committee (Chairman Fabiano

and Legislators Greene, Litts, Loughran, and Maloney)

Legislator Kevin Roberts offers the following:

WHEREAS, the Town of Plattekill has been advised that New York State

plans to begin work in July 2017 to reconstruct the NYS Thruway overpass on NYS

Route 32 in the Town of Plattekill; and

WHEREAS, Forest Road, spanning across the border between Ulster and

Orange Counties, to NYS Route 300 is to be designated as part of the detour route

during the period the overpass is reconstructed; and

WHEREAS, Forest Road is frequently and routinely traveled by residents

from both Ulster and Orange Counties; and

WHEREAS, the speed limit on Forest Road in the Town of Plattekill, Ulster

County is 45 MPH, with the speed limit being increased to 55 MPH immediately

upon crossing the Ulster County boundary to the Town of Newburgh, Orange

County; and

WHEREAS, based upon both police and citizens' reports and observations,

there are concerns with traffic safety on Forest Road, particularly in light of the

increased traffic volumes that will be produced by the detour designation and the

numerous intersections and driveways on the road; and

WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Newburgh has reviewed the

matter and concluded that a reduction in the speed limit on Forest Road from 55

MPH is in the interest of public safety; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Town Board of the Town of Newburgh

Resolution dated February 14, 2017, a formal request was made to the NYS

Department of Transportation to perform a traffic study of the Forest Road maximum

speed limit in light of the increased traffic volumes projected to occur, as well as a

request required by Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1622 to the Department of

Transportation for a reduction in the maximum speed limit from 55 MPH; and, be it

further 

WHEREAS, the Orange County Legislature and the Town Board of the Town

of Plattekill are currently in the process of considering resolutions supporting the

Town of Newburgh requests; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature hereby supports the above

mentioned requests for a traffic study of the Forest Road maximum speed limit and a

reduction in the maximum speed limit from 55 MPH; and, be it further

RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature supports a reduction in the speed

limit to 35 MPH on Forest Road for the duration of the detour; and, be it further

RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature encourages an increased State

Police presence along the detour route for the duration of the reconstruction project;

and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature shall forward

copies of this resolution to the Orange County Legislature, the Town Board of the

Town of Plattekill, the Town Board of the Town of Newburgh, Senator William J.

Larkin, Jr., Assemblymen Kevin A. Cahill and Frank Skartados, and the appropriate

offices of the New York State Department of Transportation,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: 21 NOES: 1

(Noes: Legislator J. Parete)

 (Absent: Legislator Briggs)

Passed Committee: Public Works and Capital Projects on April 11, 2017

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE 

STATE OF NEW YORK

 ss:

COUNTY OF ULSTER

I, the undersigned Clerk of the Legislature of the County of Ulster, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is

the original resolution adopted by the Ulster County Legislature on the 18th Day of April in the year Two Thousand and

Seventeen, and said resolution shall remain on file in the office of said clerk.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the County of Ulster this 21st Day of April in

the year Two Thousand and Seventeen.

|s| Victoria A. Fabella

Victoria A. Fabella, Clerk

Ulster County Legislature