It was not what Mailler Avenue residents wanted to hear. After receiving the results of a Town of Cornwall traffic study, the Department of Transportation (DOT) claimed that the data didn’t warrant a change in the speed limit.
Residents had claimed that passing motorists were driving too fast. And given the number of driveways and pedestrians on the road, a serious accident was a strong possibility – although, fortunately, none have occurred so far. Residents also mentioned the schools in the vicinity. However, none of them are directly off Mailler.
The limit is 30 miles an hour. The Town has placed a solar-powered radar sign on the road to let motorists know when they are going too fast. At previous meetings, people had asked about the installation of a speed table. The table would raise the wheel base of a vehicle and cause it to slow down.
But the installation is costly and Supervisor Josh Wojehowski acknowledged he’s hesitant to take that step if the data doesn’t support it. “I’m a data driven person,” he told the audience at the May 10 board meeting.
The discussion isn’t over. An audience member suggested that the Town ask Senator James Skoufis to appeal the DOT’s decision. Town of Cornwall Police Chief Todd Hazard mentioned another possibility. The legislature is considering a bill that would give towns the power to change speed limits.
Before people could become too optimistic, however, the chief reminded them that the bill has yet to be signed.