Earlier this summer we urged the Malone Town Council and area trucking companies to work out their differences over several issues created by heavy, tandem dump trucks hauling gravel and other supplies over town roads to reach wind-energy operations east of Malone.
We're please to report that they have. It's another example of people patiently sitting down together to resolve their differences. The alternative, the potential waging of vitriolic debate in the media and at government meetings, didn't happen as a result.
Thank Malone Mayor Brent Stewart for getting the parties together and hammering out a compromise.
Town residents had complained about the potential dangers to pedestrians, children and other vehicles and about the ensuing noise. And Town Council members were concerned by the wear and tear on the road pavement, so much so they had threatened to restrict truck traffic, forcing truck drivers to take a longer route through the Village of Malone, which didn't sit well with the truck drivers or their employers.
The village, of course, didn't want the added traffic or congestion, either, especially since the suggested truck route on Duane Street would take trucks past the community's recreation park where there's always lots of children.
And the trucking companies didn't want to use the alternate route since trips would take longer and cost them more in diesel fuel. The trucks are taking gravel and other construction supplies to wind-energy projects being built in Chateaugay, Bellmont and Burke. And reaching them via Route 11 means the drivers are using the town roads.
The agreement calls for lower speed limits on two of the four roads used by the trucks. Thomas Hill Road and River Road are now posted with 35-mph warnings while speed zones on Porter and Goodman roads will remain the same.
It's not the law yet; the speed reduction is merely an advisory to drivers. In order for the change to become permanent, the Region 7 office of the state Department of Transportation has been asked to weigh in on the variance. That agency in all likelihood will then have the New York State Police Traffic Unit at Troop B headquarters in Ray Brook evaluate River Road, which has one stretch at 45 mph sandwiched between two 35-mph zones, and Thomas Hill Road. It's hoped the entire length of River Road will be converted to 35 mph.
The lower speed-limit advisories were posted a couple of weeks ago, and we're told there have been no further complaints from residents.
Other municipalities in the North Country region could learn a lesson from this issue. Compromise is a far-better option than a stick-your-head-in-the-sand strategy.
Opinion
September 4, 2008
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