Opposition to a proposed local law inspired the Camillus Town Board last week to take less restrictive means of solving a truck traffic problem on and around Bennetts Corners Road. Several Bennetts Corners Road residents complained when truck traffic related to the large-scale Thruway reconstruction project between interchanges 39 and 40 ran nearly 24 hours a day the final week of May. Cold Springs Construction, under contract with the New York State Thruway Authority, had extended its daily working hours that week to keep on deadline. In response to the numerous complaints, the board proposed enacting a local law excluding trucks from Bennetts Corners Road from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. until Dec. 1. A public hearing on the proposed law was scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday June 22 and lasted just over an hour. Residents of Bennetts Corners Road spoke about the noise and danger created by the trucks, while advocates of the project and local farmers argued against excluding vehicles. Bill Stewart, the Cold Springs Construction project superintendent in charge of the Thruway project, asked the board not to restrict his ability to fulfill contractual obligations by limiting the workable hours. “I’m no different than a farmer, when the field’s open I have to seed,” Stewart said. Several other residents urged the board to refrain from passing leglislation to address the problem. The public hearing closed a little after 8 p.m., at which point the board agreed to instead pass a memorandum of understanding that would limit trucking on Bennetts Corners Road to 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays. The MOU was expected to be drafted this week, and would then go to public works committee for review. The town of Camillus meets next at 7 p.m. Tuesday July 27 at the municipal building, 4600 W. Genesee St. {Q}What do you think?
How far should the Camillus Town Board go to legislate limitations on truck traffic in town?
Where is the line between quality of life and economic development?
Share your opinion with us by calling 434-8889 ext.335 or e-mail [email protected]! {Q}