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The Lansing Town Board passed a resolution Wednesday to submit a request to the New york State Department Of Transportation (DOT) to reduce the speed limit on NYS Rt. 34B from Triphammer Road West to the Lansing Schools.  Supervisor Kathy Miller said that about 30 people who live on the state road submitted a petition to lower the speed limit from 45 miles per hour to 35mph.

"The speed limit is 35 in other towns," said Councilwoman Katrina Binkewicz.  "This is our town.  This is our center."

The original petition asked for a speed reduction between Triphammer and East Shore Drive.  But Miller says town officials suggested it would have a better chance of success with the DOT if the schools were included.

"The heavily traveled area is the location of the Lansing Town Hall, Lansing Community Library, Lansing Community Center, Lansing Funeral Home, Recreational Ball Fields, Lansing Fire Department, Cargill Inc. and the Lansing School District along with other numerous businesses, apartments and residential homes. This main section of road has a very heavy vehicle, bus and truck traffic with several intersects which do not allow vehicles to safely enter onto Route 34/34B with the current speed limit," the resolution states.

Board members said the speed limit reduction should begin on the Auburn Road curve where southbound traffic is currently goes from 55 mph to 45mph.  It would continue at 35mph from that point along Ridge Road to the Salmon Creek bridge, west of the school property.  Councilman Ed LaVigne said he had conferred with Cargill Mine Manager Russ Givens, who said the company wouldn't object to the speed reduction.

"I've heard a lot of folks say it's really hard to slow down for the school speed limit as you're going down the hill," said Councilwoman Ruth Hopkins.  "They wish it were introduced sooner at the top of the hill."

The next step is that the Town sends the petition to the DOT with a letter of support.

"That's the corridor where kids are," she said.  "Everybody exceeds the speed limit by five miles per hour at least.  So we are going to see what we can do."

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