November 29, 2022 Update

Route 9 Project is Advancing!

Big news! The preliminary design process for making Broadway a "complete street" will begin this spring. Right now, the NY State Department of Transportation (DOT) is in the process of selecting a consultant. The work will cover Route 9 from Sleepy Hollow through Hastings; doing public outreach, examining options and creating a plan.

The expected timeline is a June start date, leading to a design that gets approved the following June.

Route 9 Needs to be GREAT

Given the DOT's track record, if left to their own devices, they'll draft a plan that just makes Broadway a little bit better. But the Rivertowns need Broadway to be great.

• reduce delays for everyone by using smart traffic signals and some roundabouts
• smooth out vehicle flows & reduce speeding by the street having 1 travel lane each direction the whole way and strategically adding turn lanes
• enhance walking by improving/adding sidewalks and crosswalks
• make bus travel visible and comfortable by adding bus shelters at each stop
• add a barrier protected mobility lane for people cycling, scooting, wheelchairing
• connect neighborhoods to downtowns, schools and parks

This would make Broadway work for everybody. Kids would gain the freedom to travel to school, library, friends and sports without their parents' cars clogging the road. Adults could do car-free trips for errands, coffee, or dinner.

Change is Hard

A tremendous number of folks in town want to see a Broadway for everybody come to fruition. Another set of folks are wary of change. Most of their concerns stem from misunderstandings of what the proposal is, how transportation works, and how the many positive outcomes will outweigh the few annoying side effects.

Thing is, the handful of detractors are loud and angry. (During the 2017 public engagement session at the Warner Library, an outraged person ripped sticky notes off of a comment board.)

So supporters need to participate and be persistent.

Help Make it Happen, From the Ground, Up

To get the best plan possible from the DOT, each Village's Trustees need to support such. For that to happen, residents and businesses need to express themselves. (And vote for Trustees and Mayors who support this future of freedom. Sleepy Hollow's election is in March.)

Let us know how you want to help. Some of the tasks include:

• Figuring out what specific changes to advocate for, then document it.
• Meeting with neighborhood associations and community groups.
• Talking to shop owners and Village officials.
• Surveying travelers.
• Attending Village Trustee meetings.

Donate

Pulling all of this off will take a lot of time. As the saying goes, time is money. And we'll have expenses, too. Please, give generously today: https://biketarrytown.org/donate.php