I use Union street a lot.. Who wants to weave through all the traffic at Broadway and Circular/Ballston Ave.. Not me.. What's wrong with a Traffic light at that Intersection?

The project will add a new traffic signal at the intersection of Ballston Ave. with Lincoln Ave., something that's been talked about and needed for a very long time. There is already a traffic signal at the intersection with Hamilton Street. A traffic signal at the intersection with Union Street is not possible. or needed, because; 1) it would be too close to the other signalized intersections, and 2) the accident pattern there will be solved by the proposed left turn lane on Ballston Ave. While a signal isn't feasible, dead ending Union Street isn't necessary and would cause other problems.

I use this street every day. If they dead end it, I will just have to find another short cut and the problem will move to somewhere else. Make Perry Street one way going west instead.

You're not alone. Many others would do the same. How many and where would they go?? These things are unknown because the proper study to determine the answers was not completed. I live nearby and observe a LOT of traffic using Union Street. An even larger issue is that the "problem" the proposed changes are meant to address is NOT even a legitimate problem. What ever happened to the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality (especially using tax dollars)?! It seems to me there is a hidden agenda here, A project alternative to address the original objectives of the project - dealing with the intersections to the north and south - and leaving Union Street alone is needed.

This action will DESTROY our bussiness ( BLACK IRIS FLORIST )

You know who will be taking care of the new green space created if union st is closed !! (Papers and garbage from the plaza)
ME ( BLACK IRIS FLORIST )

The DPW is going to plow a dead end and fill it with snow. Where will my customers park!!!!!
This will DESTROY MY SHOP !!! (BLACK IRIS FLORIST ) STOP THIS PLAN PLEASE

This issue has an updated story with approx. repair/work schedule to be in 2014 http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2013/06/22/news/doc51c64b7ed1023197657877.txt?viewmode=fullstory

This project is a very good thing overall so, do not get me wrong, I am supportive of the project overall. However, the dead-ending of either Perry or Union Streets is totally unnecessary based on the accident history. Creating the center turn lane on Ballston Avenue will solve the only documented accident pattern/problem at that intersection. While it's true there are 79 points of conflict at the 5 way intersection, and dead ending these side streets will reduce the number of points of conflict to 6, those existing POTENTIAL points of conflict have not contributed to any accident problem according to many years of accident records. The justification provided in the above mentioned article for the proposed dead-ending is 'smoke and mirrors'. It's a 'feel good' solution to a non problem so it is therefore neither sound engineering nor cost effective. To make it worse, there has been no factual engineering study to determine where the traffic that currently crosses Ballston Avenue at Union Street will be diverted to and how that traffic diversion will INCREASE accidents in other locations. Solving a non problem in that location will likely contribute to real accident problems elsewhere, such as at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue with Hamilton Street. Even though design approval has been granted for this project, the City is free to back off from this aspect of the proposal prior to, or even during construction. If those local residents and drivers who utilize Union Street on a regular basis were aware of this dead-ending proposal they would not be happy with it, or with those who thought of it.

Thank you for your insightful comments. As I have stated before this project will destroy our
Flower shop Black Iris . We have been serving Saratoga for over twenty years and we are dreading
The yearlong construction phase and destruction of any customer parking we have.
Thanks again for your input.

Think of the snow plowing on a dead end street. With a heavy storm, will the DPW come at 8am
with a bucket loader a truck to cart away snow pile at the end of the street.We will end up with a mountain.Just plowing it to the end will not work well. Could we please make it ONE WAY SOUTH ?
Black Iris

Project is now almost complete.