There is buried treasure at the end of Victoria Lane, at least according to SeeClickFix.com user GreenBeard.

I found it (the post, not the treasure) while I was scouring the website for a SeeClickFix issue to cover for the paper, which I have been having trouble with lately because any new posts are usually repeats of old ones, which I have covered (search Seeclickfix on The Saratogian website to see what I mean). I've repeated a few, but it usually gets the same response from the city.

If anyone has a SeeClickFix they would like for me to cover, let me know. I've searched the past few weeks for anything new to no avail, but perhaps there is something I've overlooked. Otherwise, keep posting your traffic gripes on the website.

Or post links about buried treasure on SeeClickFix.com, though I can't promise anything. Here is a link to the post.

And here is my best rendering of what the map likely looks like:

Just talked to Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen and he's got news that will make Glenmore Avenue and West Circular Street residents' hearts go a-pitter-pat.

Recently a number of residents of those roads complained to SeeClickFix.com about inconsiderate drivers using their road to cut through to avoid the light at West and Grand avenues, something they said created a lot more traffic than the small residential streets should be expected to endure.

Well, they have a friend in City Hall. Mathiesen told me Tuesday that they will be making the section of Glenmore Avenue between West Circular Street and Grand Avenue a one-way street, heading the opposite direction than people using it as a shortcut would take.

"We think this will be a solution to the problem," Mathiesen said. "We'll put it up on a temporary basis and see how it works."

That will prevent people going down West Circular Street from taking a right onto Glenmore Avenue, thereby shooting any hoped-for shortcut in the foot.

So put take that SeeClickFix commenter PD, who told residents “Too bad. We are not going to stop any time soon. Deal with it!”

Turns out, you're wrong PD.

Another little addition I neglected in the first article were the comments of Saratoga Springs Police Traffic Safety Sgt. Andrew Prestigiacomo, who said speed bumps are not used in the city for speed reduction. He said he would assign a speed detail to the area.

"It's a well-known short-cut to Grand Avenue," he said Friday. He said the city would not restrict access to the road because its a public street.

Of course, one can argue Mathiesen's plan will not restrict access per se, but rather just redefine the kind of access.

Here is a post reported on the SeeClickFix.com website that we write about weekly (when it is possible)

Red light at Rock and Rt.50 burned out

The red light facing Rock St. on the North Broadway side of the intersection with the arterial has been burned out for at least 4 months
Related Issues, reported Gary Hasbrouck

The first two comments were about what you would expect and see often. People giving info on who to call to fix it.

"Report This to DOT. It's their responsibility. 1-800-POT-HOLE," said PD, who, by the way has 1785 civic points. I don't know what that means, but it's impressive.

Next, someone said they had, indeed, reported the problem to DOT.

But here's the one that gets me:

"It will be fixed later today.

I find it strange that Mr. Hasbrouck took the time to get on his computer, go to the website, and enter his issue rather than take the 10 seconds to call NYSDOT and report the problem so we can fix it.

Thanks,
Mark Pyskadlo, P.E.
NYSDOT - Region One Traffic Engineering
328 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12305
(518) 388-0380"

Even the DOT is using SeeClickFix to get things done!

And I just want to say, in solidarity with Gary Hasbrouck, NOTHING involving a state agency takes 10 seconds. Granted, it would have been easier for the DOT if Gary would have just called, but just trying to figure out who to call can often take longer than it should.

And actually, I called the 1-800-POT-HOLE number supplied by PD, and I did get someone immediately, but it was an operator who takes calls specifically about potholes, and faxes the info to the DOT.

She said she could take more info if I wanted to report another complaint, but she said she didn't know if they would check for anything but potholes.

So FYI, if you have a pothole to report, by all means that 800 number works. Otherwise, I guess call Mark, or report it on Seeclickfix.com

It's funny that after years in this business I still can't always predict what stories are going to get people all hot and bothered.

We have been getting calls on the Sound Off line, comments on the website (or Web site if you follow AP style) and I have received calls at my desk-- all about this smell down Excelsior Avenue.

Some might say, as, ZYXW did on the original SeeClickFix story about the issue: "Frankly, I'm surprised this is considered news."

I felt like Toucan Sam the other day when I wrote the follow up about the DEC investigating the smell, wandering the area, following my nose wherever it goes trying to determine the source of any smell. I caught a couple whiffs on the breeze but never could figure out where it was coming from.

But it certainly has people talking. Everyone has a theory. One man in my office said the woods there used to be called the "Ten Spring Woods" because springs run throughout it-- springs that can be sulfuric and nasty-smelling.

I got a call saying it was the amount of rain we got from Irene. It pushed the manhole covers up, spread sewage all around and receded.

"The whole area smelled like your basic septic tank," said Ray Nichols, a nearby resident. He said he witnessed the manhole covers on Excelsior and East avenues lift and water spew out, along with everything else you might expect in a sewer. "There was toilet paper around the area afterward. The next day you could see the stuff on the ground and you could smell it horribly."

One man I spoke to near the site said recent construction probably hit a sewer line.

Others have dismissed the smell altogether. "It's smelled for years," they say, and the only reason you hear about it more now is because of the Spring Run Trail cut through the woods that brings more people to the area-- more people to complain that is.

Everyone, though, smells the smell, it's just a matter of the source.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation spokesperson Dave Winchell said Water Quality crews took samples of water from "seepage" seeming to come out of the ground and run into the creek along the Spring Run Trail.

"The first thing we do when we have a possible pollution problem is to find out where the problem is coming from and stop it," Winchell said.

He said the discharge is being tested to determine whether it is sewage and the results will be returned within a few days.

When one is found, I'll be sure to let everyone know.

If anyone has any theories, feel free to let us know in the comments.

Hello out there in SeeClickFix land.
After writing the article on the Gilbert Road intersection with State Route 29 (Lake Avenue) for Monday's SeeClickFix article (Saratoga Springs Public Safety Commissioner Richard Wirth adds Gilbert Road/Route 29 junction to list of intersections to address), I received this e-mail from another concerned citizen:

Allow me to add my concerns about the intersection of Gilbert Rd. and Rt. 29. As a resident of the Meadowbrook Area, we travel to the Wilton Mall area, almost daily. It is almost impossible to get from Gilbert Rd. to Weible at the "offset" intersection at Rt. 29, unless some sympathetic driver allows you "in" at Rt. 29. This intersection is exacerbated by two "green turn arrows" at the Rt. 29 and Weible intersection signal.

When all is "clear", traffic bursts out of Weible on the Green Arrow.

I have had so many "near misses" that I now go past Gilbert, to Henning Rd, (longer but safer) and enter Rt. 29 at the Henning Signal. Then turn right toward Weible and safely make the left turn since the signal is on Rt. 29 at Weible.

John Ginley
10 Winding Brook Dr.

When I spoke to Commissioner Richard Wirth, he agreed to work on getting me -- and thus you -- a follow-up story with some reports on these intersections and concerns that have been expressed to him over the last couple months through this continuing series. "Nothing is being ignored," he said, adding that as soon as the city's traffic safety control officer, Mark Benacquista, gets some free time to evaluate the issues. He has, in the past, generated reports specifically for the SeeClickFix users.
I'll keep at it, though, and make sure some there is a conclusion to some of these SeeClickFix complaints.

After writing the article in response to SeeClickFix complaints about the intersection of Circular Street, Whitney Place and Park Place, I received an interesting e-mail from Pennsylvania Department of Transportation civil engineer Abram VanElswyk (I didn't think our circulation was so far reaching. Thank you internet), who suggested a different type of roundabout. Here are the contents of the e-mail which I have forwarded to Mark Benacquista, Dep. Commissioner Frank Dudla and Commissioner Richard Wirth:

Lucian –

I read with interest your article from yesterday regarding the issues at the Circular/Whitney/Park Place intersection, specifically the City Traffic Control Supervisor’s comments that a roundabout wouldn’t work there.

I checked out the site and do see how a typical roundabout could have negative right-of-way impacts. However, one option I wanted to call your and Mr. Benacquista’s attention to is a mini-roundabout. The primary difference between a regular roundabout and a mini is that the center of a mini is “traversable” (you can drive over it), which lets you make the roundabout smaller - cars go around like normal, and anything larger than an SUV or a Uhaul truck just bumps over the middle, which has a soft curb.

Here’s Federal Highway’s page on mini roundabouts: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/roundabouts/fhwasa10007/

I’ve also attached a rough sketch showing how a pair of minis (one 70’ diameter, one 60’) might work at the Circular/Whitney/Park Place intersection.


I was not able to find email contact information for Mr. Benacquista, so if you would forward this message on to him it would be greatly appreciated.


Regards,

Abram VanElswyk | Civil Engineer Transportation
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Bureau of Project Delivery | Highway Quality Assurance Division
400 North Street | Harrisburg PA 17210
Phone: 717.705.8535 | Fax: 717.705.2379
www.dot.state.pa.us

He attached this picture of his suggestion:



Also here is a copy of the report prepared by Benacquista:
Circular@Park Whitney

Check out the latest installment of our SeeClickFix series. We've partnered with the service to help Spa City and Saratoga County residents point out problem areas on local roadways and in local neighborhoods.

This week's piece looks at two areas tagged by Saratoga Springs residents as corridors for excessive speed, with comment from city police.

Spa City residents to SeeClickFix: High speeds not OK.

The second installment of the series centered around our partnership with SeeClickFix is out today. This week's piece focuses on a lack of city traffic signals, as identified by area residents utilizing the program, at certain intersections within Saratoga Springs.Click here to read it.

In case you missed our first installment, regarding the right turn/straight lane on Weibel Avenue in front of the Hannaford plaza, click here.