The December 5, 2023, Saratoga Springs City Council meeting was yet another example of mindless accusations and poorly considered actions by Council members.
The issue was limiting truck traffic on Van Dam Street by placing a 5 ton weight limit on trucks using that thoroughfare.
Following the public comment period at which many of the residents of Van Dam pleaded with the Council to limit truck traffic there, Mayor Ron Kim accused one of his opponents in the last election, Chris Mathiesen of “illegal” behavior in somehow making Van Dam Street a truck route years ago. His accusation was based on unsubstantiated allegations. [JK: Chris’s response is at the end of this post.]
Kim claimed that a letter written by Chris Mathiesen, the Commissioner of Public Safety at the time, to the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) in 2014 somehow directed DOT to make Van Dam into a truck route.
During his spirited accusations regarding Mathiesen, Kim disclosed that he did not actually have a copy of the letter he cited as evidence, nor had he apparently seen one. It was also evident that he had not had the courtesy of discussing the matter with Mathiesen before making his public accusations.
All of this performance was for the benefit of the many people from Van Dam Street who had addressed the Council on their desire to place a weight limit on trucks allowed to access their street.
A History Of Van Dam Street and the City’s Truck Problems
One route trucks take traveling from the New York State Thruway east to the Adirondack Northway is through Saratoga Springs. For decades Van Dam Street has been one of the roads trucks take to get through the city. In the late 1970s, my wife and I looked at a house on Van Dam Street as a possible home for us. Knowing that the street was frequently used as a truck route, though, we decided not to pursue the purchase. This pre-dated by many years, Mathiesen’s terms as Public Safety Commissioner.
The idea that Mathiesen was responsible for making Van Dam into a truck route is patently false.
I spoke to Chris about what actually happened.
Washington Street is a state road (NYS Route 29) and is a state-designated truck route. The road is narrow. Even narrower than Van Dam St. It ends in a T intersection at Broadway (by Starbucks). The increased truck traffic over the years has made life on Washington Street challenging for those homeowners. In many ways, the problems for homeowners on Washington Street were even worse than those on Van Dam. In addition, the maneuvering trucks had to do to negotiate the turn onto Broadway from Washington was notorious. Sidewalks at that intersection were frequently in need of repair as trucks would routinely go up over them to make the turn. I use the past tense since construction has kept that stretch of Washington closed recently. This could maybe account for the complaints of Van Dam street residents that truck traffic on their street had increased.
To his credit (no good deed goes unpunished), Chris attempted to see how to ease the truck problems. He wrote to NYSDOT advising them of the streets currently used for truck traffic, including Van Dam. He sought their advice on how to ease the city’s truck problems. Clearly, Van Dam would be part of a possibly better design.
The critical point here is that Van Dam was already a truck route. It was reckless and without foundation for Kim to blame Mathiesen for the truck problems on Van Dam, let alone say that he did something “illegal.”
Here is a twelve-minute excerpt from the meeting of the discussion.
I understand the frustration and anger expressed by the residents of Van Dam. Still, Van Dam intersects with Broadway beyond the north end of the downtown business district and connects quickly to the arterial leading to the Northway. Washington Street, in contrast, dumps truck traffic directly into the middle of downtown. It’s hard not to agree that, given bad choices, Van Dam makes sense as one of the city’s truck routes.
Finance Commissioner Sanghvi rightly asked what happens next if trucks can’t use Van Dam. Where will they go? Public Works Commissioner Jason Golub expressed reservations when the item came up later on the agenda for a vote. He thoughtfully suggested that before proceeding, there was a need for a thoroughly thought-out plan.
Nevertheless, succumbing to the compelling and emotional pleas of the Van Dam Street homeowners, the Council ignored these issues and approved the weight limit for their street. I have to express sympathy for the people of Washington Street who will now bear the burden of even more truck traffic, as will downtown Broadway.
A Skeptical Blogger Ruminates About Trucks
The problem of truck traffic has plagued this city for decades. At some point, the State Park and DOT were approached about building a truck route at the Southern end of the state park in order to bypass downtown Saratoga Springs. The response was a resounding no. There are extensive wetlands in that area, and the park does not want the noise of trucks to be part of its environment.
Bill McTygue has recently garnered headlines in the Daily Gazette by resurrecting this plan for a truck route.
Given the history of this problem, this blogger is highly skeptical that this solution will be any more viable now than it was when it was proposed and dropped years ago. I noted that when McTygue spoke to the Council, he was careful to observe the impact on Washington Street that removing trucks from Van Dam would have.
Congratulations but……..
I congratulate the Van Dam homeowners on their success at the December 5, 2023 meeting. Their victory, however, if sustained, comes at the cost of making life for those who live on Washington Street even more difficult and will negatively impact Broadway and downtown Saratoga. It remains to be seen, though, if this resolution will be sustainable. Not only will the new Council now have to deal with the fallout from this Council’s poorly thought out action, but it has yet to be seen if DOT will allow this to happen.
Chris Mathiesen’s Statement
[This was a letter he sent to Saratoga Today]
In particular, I addressed one of the attacks on my administration as Public Safety Commissioner during my term in office (2012-2017).
It should also be noted that Mayor Kim’s frequent criticism of the Police Chief’s decision to reduce the Traffic Division of the SSPD is unfair. I have offered to sit down with the Mayor to discuss the reasons for that decision. He has continued to ignore my offers.
The letter is below:
December 6, 2023
To: Saratoga Springs City Council
RE: Van Dam Street Truck Traffic
After attending last night’s Saratoga Springs City Council meeting, I did some research today. I have been able to establish the following:
Van Dam Street has been a Designated Access Highway for truck travel since 1989. No change was made regarding that designation during my term in office as Commissioner of Public Safety (2012-2017).
I did send to the NYS Department of Transportation letters on November 18, 2014 and March 4, 2015 to inquire whether the Washington Street/Route 29 corridor from West Avenue to Broadway could be restricted so that large trucks could no longer use that state route. This was one of a number of suggestions that we were considering, including one proposal that would eliminate east-to-west truck traffic on Lake Avenue.
Due to the lack of cooperation from the Town of Wilton, the plan to eliminate east-to-west traffic on Lake Avenue was not successful.
Any plan to change truck access to Washington Street/Route 29 would have required approval from the City Council in coordination with the NYS Department of Transportation. Our inquiry never advanced that far. Because the elimination of truck access on Washington Street/Route 29 would have resulted in that traffic being transferred to the already burdened Church Street/Van Dam Street corridor, we were reluctant to proceed and, especially after talking to Van Dam Street neighbors, we decided not to pursue that option.
The NYS Department of Transportation verifies that there was no change in designation of the Van Dam Street as a Designated Access Highway during my term in office. The actions that Mayor Kim claimed to have occurred as a result of my letters did not take place. Also, Washington Street/Route 29 continues to be a truck route through our west side to this day.
There were no actions taken by the NYS DOT regarding Van Dam Street during my term in office and thus no illegal activity on my part despite the remarks made by Council members during last night’s meeting. Council members have every right to make inquiries with state agencies. As Commissioner, I was in no position to negotiate with the NYS DOT but my department was most certainly entitled to gather facts on what the City’s options were on this most important topic. Had we decided to pursue this issue, the Mayor, the City attorney and the entire City Council would have been part of any formal negotiation with NYS DOT.
In summary, there were no changes in the designation of Van Dam Street as a Designated Access Highway during my administration. The were no ‘illegal’ or inappropriate actions taken by me or by the NYS DOT regarding the truck use on Van Dam Street. Truck access for both the Washington Street/Route 29 corridor and Church Street/Van Dam Street were, up until Tuesday evening, exactly what they were when I came into office in 2012.
I am concerned about the actions that the Council took on Tuesday night. There seems to be no coordination with the NYS DOT regarding the sudden imposition of the 5 ton weight limit. Van Dam Street continues to be a Designated Access Highway which is inconsistent with the Council’s action. Also, there does not seem to be a full appreciation for the disruption that this action will cause and the sudden burden on Washington Street/Route 29 (which is currently closed to truck traffic), Church Street/Route 9N, and Broadway as more trucks will be required to take those routes.
I sympathize with the Van Dam Street residents and I can empathize with current and future Council members having to deal with a situation for which there seems to be no reasonable solution. Good luck to you all.
Chris Mathiesen
Saratoga Springs Politics 
This appeared to be a choreographed effort between Kim and one of his good old buddy’s, Bill McTygue. Bill said he put together an action plan that he hoped the council had read which was based on a 1996 report on the issue presented by Bill Dake. I wonder if the Van Dam existing truck route (1996) was mentioned in that report?
Here is the problem I have. McTygue, who is backed up by Kim’s accusations, seemingly intends to get this resolution passed in order to create attention by causing a problem, not offering a solution.
McTygue-“This is going to require a unified effort by this city to bring this issue to the attention of the state of NY.”
Golub- “Do you think it makes sense to pass this resolution tonight without having an action plan in place?”
McTygue- “Well, it’s one way of get the State’s attention for sure and that’s what it’s going to require. We need the State’s attention.”
That is when Kim jumps in declaring an illegal act to have led to the truck route, which was probably identified as existing prior to 2014 in McTygue’s report.
Did the report not mention that? If it didn’t, it must not have been thorough. Did City Council not read the report? Why weren’t the residents of Van Dam told the truth about the long standing truck route?
Should the DOT have been consulted in such a move to alter an existing truck route? Was it actually Kim who did not follow the rules on top of his false accusations?
To blame others, make a mess to gain attention, and mislead people sounds like something a pre-schooler might do.
How much more damage will Kim do in the 19 more days he has left? I guess it doesn’t matter the state he leaves Saratoga in when he can go home to Warren County.
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Agree totally.
The worst mayor calling out the 2nd worst mayor this city has had in the 35 years I have lived here over a made up lie about Chris.
Thank you Chris for running or we would have had 2 more years of this insanity.
A thoughtful route thru “wetlands” to give city residents better neighborhoods, crazy talk. Intelligent and thoughtful engineers could easily come up with a route thru the park with minimal impact but that would require compromise. As Mayor Kim shows, lawyers tend to ruin almost everything.
18 days left
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Where the heck were the McTygues, in control of PW, before some ditz brain took Leonard’s crossing over for the state. They didn’t support the original proposal. Now when it is too late, there they are! The McTygues were on the council, father and son for over 60 years and yet they never address a truck route around our main thoroughfare until the latest one wants to run for mayor.
And then there is the well paid planning department who doesn’t know or care to know what state body’s regulations control traffic regulations!
They were probably in India with Singvi for three months when she neglected to construct a proper budget. Or perhaps out to lunch when she paid exempt individuals over time for going to funerals! Tax exempt employees don’t get paid extra for doing their job! They’re management. I certainly wouldn’t pay to send students to Skidmore if that is the quality of their teaching staff.
Maybe they were with Moran at the bar when he decided to fire everyone and garner power.
We sarstoga Springs tax payers are now paying six figure salaries to deputies who are incompetent at their jobs and obviously greedy into the bargain. Proof is that no competent, knowledgeable people will even run for most of the offices. So we are left with the dross. We are left with land use committees composed of people who sleep with each other. We are left with retirees who need something to do. Or ambitious types who use us as stepping stones while raising taxes and ignoring the law.
This will never get better until we change our form of government and let professionals run departments with caring people to constitute a legislative body. It’s no wonder there are less than a dozen commission forms of government left in the entire country.
Most native Saratogians dont like change while most newer residents don’t know or don’t seem to care who spends their tax dollars or how they are spent. Alas…
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Nice!,you say all that and end with that?…..Listen,any form of government can only be as good as the people in it!!
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With our current form of government I can vote in or out for each commissioner and the mayor. We voted 2 out last election and will vote two more out next time. I would hate to give up my right to vote for each person making decisions that affect me personally.
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State Routes through the city( in particular east-west) need to be consolidated. Rte 29 should head north on West Ave. @ Washington St., turn right onto Church St. and unite w/ Rte 9N. The 2 rtes proceed onto Van Dam and to Broadway. Rte 9N terminates and Rte 29 continues w/ Rte 9 out Whitney Pkwy to Marion Ave(Rte 9 heads north) and Rte 29 continues to Northway. Rte 29 heads south from exit 15 to exit 14, runs across Hennig Rd. north to Lake Ave. and continues on its merry way to Schuylerville. Trucks never see
Broadway(except to cross it at Van Dam), nor do they rumble into town on Washington St.
The other part of truck traffic problems(which should be addressed simultaneously and comprehensively) in the city are the trucks headed to Grande Industrial Park out Geyser rd. , but are currently routed thru south broadway
and Finley St. to rte 50 south(Ballaton Ave.) to Geyser. Completely unnecessary. Trucks for Grande Industrial Park should be directed by signage on the Northway to Exit 13S to Rte 9 South to Malta Ave. west to Northline Rd. west to Rte 50 and then again North to Geyser. And again as they leave the park signs direct them back to Northway exit 13 by same route. These are State and County Rds. which are meant for commercial traffic. Also large 18 wheel trucks that have to deliver to the inner core of broadway and downtown should have a muster
location on the outskirts(perhaps Grande Industrial park) of town and transfer loads to smaller less obtrusive
van, box type trucks ala Amazon.
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This makes a lot of sense, and would be cost effective too. I guess the only issue is that this would funnel the trucks to Van Dam, but I don’t think there is a painless solution and the city has to pick its poison. Certainly at least some of what you wrote here should be considered and implemented.
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The problem with the Grande Industrial Park truck route that Christopher Hart suggests is that it would require cooperation from the towns of Malta and Milton. That is why the present route follows an indirect route from Geyser Road to Ballston Avenue (Route 50) to Adelphi Street to South Broadway (Route 9), all of which is within the City limits. Surrounding towns do not want additional trucks.
The Route 29 truch traffic on the east side of Saratoga Springs from east to west could easily be routed across Weibel Avenue to Route 50 if only Wilton would give permission to use a small portion of Weibel Avenue for trucks. They continue to refuse. As a result, trucks continue to travel on Lake Avenue into the City when traveling west. The opposite is not true. Trucks traveling on Route 29 from Broadway going east take the arterial to the Loudon Road slip ramp and on to Weibel, then to outer Lake Avenue (Route 29) because that entire route is within City limits, thus relieving Lake Avenue of at least some truck traffic.
Van Dam Street residents are absolutely right as they express concern about the truck travel. Unfortunately, there are no great alternatives at this time. The 5 Ton weight limit signs are now up on Van Dam. Some trucks are ignoring them. Some trucks are taking the only other presently viable legal route which is Church Street (Route 9 N). We will see how this plays out.
Chris Mathiesen
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I can understand the neighbors on Van Dam not concerning themselves with what impact what they were asking for would have on the city at large. Surely, though, that responsibility lands squarely in the laps of the Mayor and Council members. Yet although they admitted that limiting the weight for trucks traveling on Van Dam would only cause more problems in other areas of the city, they voted to do this anyway. More performance. More “let’s not think this through before we do it”. I’m only sorry we were not able to replace this entire Council in this election cycle.
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JK is quoted:
“In the late 1970s, my wife and I looked at a house on Van Dam Street as a possible home for us. Knowing that the street was frequently used as a truck route, though, we decided not to pursue the purchase.”
And there is your answer.! People can’t move to a location that already has noise pollution issues, traffic issues, lack of fire protection, pedestrian safety issues, etc., and then expect the city, county or state to eliminate the problem. Most issues, like the Van Dam complaint, rely on self-observation. If your realtor, family or friends didn’t warn you, then let the buyer beware. Caveat emptor.
Maybe, rather than changing the rules for the truckers, it might be easier for those who registered the complaint, time to move on.
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Didn’t we have a similar situation with the hospital a few years ago? Despite whatever flaws it might have, Saratoga Springs is lucky to have a hospital of their quality right in the city. I thought they made a pretty clear case for why expansion was good for them, and in turn good for the city and its residents. Unfortunately the neighbors, who moved in knowing a hospital was there, decided to put their own self-interest ahead of that and we’re now all worse off because of it.
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John.
For what they’re worth, here are a few preliminary thoughts on routing Special Dimension Vehicles (SDVs) and Qualifying Access Highways.
These vehicles, or vehicle combinations, were initially authorized by the 1982 Federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act and subsequent state legislation.
Under the 1990 Omnibus Truck Safety Bill, New York authorized the use of 53 foot trailer combinations, effective November 1990. Per § 385(3)(e) of the Vehicle & Traffic Law, the 53 foot trailer combinations are restricted to the Qualifying and Access Highway system.
A Qualifying Highway is a roadway designated as part of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) of 1982 which allows Special Dimension Vehicles (tractor trailers combinations greater than 65 feet, tractor with 28 foot tandem trailers, maxi-cubes, triple saddle mounts, stinger-steered auto carriers and boat transporters) and 53′ trailers to use that highway and any other highway within one linear mile.
Unless otherwise specified, Qualifying Access Highways may be used by all Special Dimension Vehicles. In addition, Special Dimension Vehicles may also operate on all highways within one road mile of Qualifying Highways (National Network) using the most reasonable and practicable route available, except for specific safety reasons on individual routes (23 CFR 658.19). The National Network consist of all Interstates plus specifically designated other highways, including most state highways.
The confluence here in Saratoga Springs of several state and interstate components (9, 9N, 29, 50, I 87) of the National Highway Network resulted in several city owned and maintained street segments designated an “Access Highway.” Van Dam Street is so designated.
Local government has diminished authority to regulate these local access roads and streets. Imposing a weight limitation on a local access road first requires the designation of an appropriate alternative route and approval by the NYS Department of Transportation Regional Office.
It seems inconceivable that the City Council would post a local “access” roadway – as it apparently authorized by amendment to the City Code at its last meeting – without prior approval of DOT. I do not know what alternate route the Council may have asked DOT. At this writing the 5 Ton Limit signs are posted on Van Dam immediately next to the posted Truck Route signs.
If DOT has not approved the Council’s action the proposed weight limit will be unenforceable.
Perhaps the entire community and the Council members would benefit from a review of all currently designated access roads in the city, how some have been altered over time, the process necessary to amend the system and other pertinent matters. Such a review might also include a brief history of the several by-pass proposals and initiatives that have been undertaken since 1980.
Finally, I note that V & T Law enforcement and commercial truck inspections as measured by number of citations issued and fines collected seem to have declined precipitously.
In the late 80s and early 90s following establishment of a well trained and equipped traffic safety unit, V & T and overweight and unsafe truck fine revenue was as high as $225,000 annually. The number of traffic citations issued annually by the SSPD increased from a an average 2,145 prior to the Traffic Safety Division coming on line in 1988 to nearly 3,300. In 1993 46,00 tickets were issued. Vehicular accidents and personal injury accidents declined to ten year lows. Today that revenue line has fallen to $30,000.
Then Truck Fines appeared in the city budget as a separate line. That line is long gone. The Traffic Safety Division as originally constituted was abolished at some point in time. I do know when or why.
Lew Benton
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Why do these 53 foot tractor trailers have to come through Saratoga at all? Wouldn’t our city be that much more beautiful if we prohibited large trucks from all of our downtown and residential streets?
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Constance,
See above.
Lee Benton
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Lee,
Thank you for all that information. It’s really interesting. You clearly know a lot about this. Is there any type of regulation that could be implemented in terms of the origin and destination of the large trucks coming through our city? If a truck is just transient and has no reason (other than its using Saratoga as a shortcut) to drive into the city of Saratoga Springs is there someway to restrict that unnecessary truck traffic? I realize this would require enforcement but a truck enforcement unit seems like a win win for the city. It would help make Saratoga safer and more beautiful and would generate revenue? I am a life long resident of Saratoga and know how long this issue has been going on and I would love to see a comprehensive solution for the entire city.
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