The intersection of E. Main St. and East Avenue, where a new traffic light will soon be installed in order to increase safety for students and pedestrians at Falconer Central School. (Image from Google Maps)
FALCONER – Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I- 57th District) announced Monday that the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) has agreed to her request to install a traffic signal to address safety concerns at the intersection of East Avenue and E. Main St. (Route 394) in Falconer.
According to Senator Young, the intersection has a history of dangerous accidents. Most recently, two students suffered injuries that required hospitalization when they were struck by a car while walking near Falconer High School this past April.
After the accident, Village of Falconer Mayor James Rensel and Falconer Central School District Superintendent Stephen Penhollow wrote to Senator Young to express their concerns. At Senator Young’s urging, DOT performed a new study regarding the potential for a traffic signal to be installed where the crosswalk currently exists. This time DOT determined that “a warrant has been met for the installation of a three-color signal at this intersection.”
Local officials applauded the study’s findings and the outcome.
“We were very happy to receive this news. I’d like to thank Senator Catharine Young for her efforts,” said Mayor Rensel. “I would also like to thank Senator Young’s local representative Lisa Vanstrom, Falconer Central School Superintendent Steve Penhollow, Falconer DPW Superintendent Sam Ognibene, and Town of Ellicott Police Chief Bill Ohnmeiss. It was a great team to work with to achieve this result.”
In the coming weeks, Senator Young will be coordinating a meeting with DOT and school officials to determine what next steps and course of action will best serve the needs of all involved.
Does this mean we will have another budget line on our taxes paying for this new traffic light for the next 20 years lime we still do for the traffic light in front of Sam’s Club????
It’s great that a light will be installed , but if you’ve ever driven near the school before or after classes, it is shameful how so many kids behave. They walk side by side in the street, ride bikes without looking for traffic, appear to have no respect for motor vehicles.The older kids who drive think that the corner of Mosher and Central is the start of a race. Police should watch this area around 2:20,2:30. Do they understand that a car or truck traveling as slow as 25 mph can cause severe injury. These kids floor it. Small kids are walking , pregnant moms, elderly ,all in danger. These kids need better education…from home or school, or both. Their lives depend on it… so do the rest of us . Just a street light isn’t the fix.