John: I was trying to illustrate the Village adminstrations to enlist consultants opinions seemingly for every question that comes before them. I was using an obvious situation - at least to those who live near those streets or who are at the Longcommon or Deleplaine crossings at the evening "rush hour". I didn't guarantee it would work, I just thought that people here in the village with some sense might beable to suggest ways to approach our problems without hiring outside consultants who will give you a lot of garbage and statistics with a fancy cover on it. If anyone thinks there is not a huge influx of transient cars entering at 31st/Akenside/Deleplaine and crossing the tracks at Longcommon or Deleplaine and then traveling at considerably above the posted speeds (and rolling most of the stop signs) along Akenside and Riverside Road or Deleplaine between say 4 and 6 PM I invite them to take a look. Many times the traffic passing down Riverside Road eastward at that time is bumper to bumper before going out at Miller or Lionel. ( It would be full in the opposite direction if it wasn't so difficult to turn left off Harlem or Miller was two-way.
As to how much traffic there was in the '50s, when First Ave. was practically empty and did not connect to the as yet unbuilt Stevenson or the just opening Eisenhower, I don't see the relevance. I'm talking about today's problems, not what we had a half-century back. Surely someone will tell us "you can't do that" without three studies and a lot of legal fees. As for "perceived elitism" - well we have signs posted that say "No Fishing" in the Swan Pond but I don't see that stops anyone. We have a sound ordinance but I never see anyone get a ticket for driving around with the music blaring out of their car or truck. We have a lighting ordinance that prohibits lights being directed beyond a lot line, but there are parts of this town that are starting to look like Las Vegas. I saw the TOD consultants were advocating stop lights at the main crossing at Burlington and Longcommon - an intersection that (when combined with the rail traffic) couldn't be improved by all the engineers at NASA. And before I forget, if you try and cross Riverside Road from the bank to the town hall during the evening rush hour don't bet that any of those cars rolling through are going to stop for you in that crosswalk - sign or no sign, proximity to the Police Station or not. It's a bad bet I counsel you not to make.
Out in California the Dept of Highways keeps putting up road signs with arrows pointing to Bolinas from Highway One, and they keep disappearing. At Pebble Beach there are gates and residents have openers, visitors pay - I think it is now ten dollars. Delivery vehicles are allowed in, and it all works. That might be the wrong way to go here, it is just a suggestion to see what people think. You know - stimulate the brain. Look at alternatives. Like plant more trees rather than hire consultants. Just my unsolicited view and my name is on it.
Catherine: My FOIA request is for total expenditure by the Village per project, not by consultant. I shall post it here when it is finished. It's another attempt to know how the public's funds have been spent.
I'd also like to make another point that the present "wish list" of enhanced services the taxpayers are being asked to pay for were never mentioned when the TIF money was being sought. So if the TIF had passed, then the latest increases in taxes for the buildings in that area would not be flowing to the general fund, bit would have been sequestered, making our situation even worse.