|
Proposed Concepts |
|
Evaluation Criterion |
Interchanges Concepts |
Two Mainline Barriers Concept |
Four Mainline Barriers Concept |
| PROPOSED
ACTION |
| Description |
Interchanges 23, 24 and 25 would
be reconstructed to accommodate future traffic
volumes. See "Comparative Evaluation of
Interchange Design Concepts" for comparison of
concepts at each interchange. |
Mainline barriers would be
constructed at two locations: south of Interchange
23 at milepost (MP) 139 and west of Interchange
25A at MP 159. The existing toll plazas would be
removed at Interchanges 23 through 25A. New toll
plazas would be constructed on the Interchange 23
SB exit ramp and Interchange 25 WB exit ramp. |
Mainline barriers would be
constructed at four locations: south of
Interchange 23 at MP 139, between Interchanges 23
and 24 at MP 146 (SB only), between Interchanges
24 and 25 at MP 151 (WB only), and west of
Interchange 25A at MP 159. The existing toll
plazas would be removed at Interchanges 23 through
25A. |
| Legal Issues |
No issues identified. |
This comment
applies to the Two and Four Mainline Barriers
Concepts:
Federal legislation would be required to
address the toll-free access to I-88 issue.
This Barrier Concepts is not consistent with
the Thruway Bond Resolution. The Resolution is a
binding contract between the Thruway Authority and
the purchasers of its bonds and cannot be amended
without the consent of a majority of the
bondholders and approval of the Thruway Board. |
| Financial Issues |
No issues identified. |
This comment
applies to the Two and Four Mainline Barriers
Concepts:
Some tolls in the Albany Corridor may need to
be adjusted to compensate for diversions. The
Authority's Bond Consultant will investigate this. |
|
PROJECT GOALS & OBJECTIVES |
| Meet the Traffic Capacity and
Safety Needs of the Thruway system |
| Provides Capacity to Meet Design
Year
Traffic Volumes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Freeway Merge/Diverge
Level-of-Service |
All interchange ramps operate at
LOS D or better. |
All mainline barrier ramps operate
at LOS C or better. All interchange ramps operate
at LOS D or better. |
All mainline barrier ramps operate
at LOS D or better. All interchange ramps operate
at LOS D or better. |
| Safety |
These comments
apply to the Interchange Concepts and Two and Four
Mainline Barrier Concepts:
Improves weaving distance between Thruway and
non-Thruway ramps at the interchanges.
Concrete barrier at toll plazas separates
opposing traffic movements.
Eliminates left-turns in and out of tandem lot.
New toll barriers provide overhead walkway for
Thruway employees to access toll booths. |
| Improve Regional Mobility |
| Thruway Facilities |
|
Improvements |
Increased capacity at toll plazas
would reduce congestion and delay.
|
Removal of interchange toll plazas
and installation of highway-speed E-ZPass at
mainline barriers would reduce congestion and
delay.
E-ZPass users would travel at
highway speed through the Albany Corridor except
at Interchange 23 SB exit and Interchange 25 WB
exit toll plazas. |
Removal of interchange toll plazas
and installation of highway-speed E-ZPass at
mainline barriers would reduce congestion and
delay.
E-ZPass users would travel at
highway speed through the Albany Corridor. |
| Concerns |
No concerns identified. |
Cash users traveling through
capital region required to stop at 2 mainline
barriers. |
Cash users traveling through
capital region required to stop at 3 mainline
barriers. |
| Non-Thruway
Facilities |
|
Improvements |
The interchange concepts may
provide direct connections between I-787 and the
Thruway toll plaza, from the Thruway NB to the
Northway NB, and from the Northway SB to the
Thruway SB. |
This comment applies to the Two
and Four Mainline Barriers Concepts:
Access between Thruway and
non-Thruway facilities would remain the same
except at Interchange 24. A direct connection may
be provided at Interchange 24 between the Thruway
NB and Northway NB. |
| Concerns |
May eliminate ramps between I-890,
Carman Road, and the Interchange 25 toll plaza. |
No concerns identified. |
| No. of Intersections
Operating at LOS E or worse2 |
| 2024 No-Build Conditions |
6 |
6 |
6 |
| 2024 Build Conditions |
02 |
6 |
6 |
| Minimize Acquisition of
Developed Properties |
| Right-of-Way Required |
Requires:
60 - 100 Acres |
Minimizes right-of-way required.
Requires:
40 ± Acres
|
Requires:
50 ± Acres |
| No. of Full Acquisitions Required
(approximate) |
| Residential |
0 to 3+3 |
0 |
0 |
| Commercial |
0 to 6 |
0 |
3 |
| Undeveloped |
1 to 8 |
0 |
3 |
| Minimize Negative
Socio-Economic and Environmental Concerns |
| Potential Wetland Concerns |
Results in filling of:
2 - 8 Acres |
Avoids filling wetland as much as
possible. Results in filling of:
3 ± Acres |
Minimizes filling wetland. Results
in filling of:
2 ± Acres |
| Potential Noise Benefits |
Reduces noise by reducing
congestion at Interchange toll plazas. |
This comment
applies to the Two and Four Mainline Barriers
Concepts:
May reduce noise at some interchanges by
reducing congestion through removal of the
existing toll plazas. |
| Potential Noise Concerns |
Constructs new ramps closer to
properties adjacent to each interchange. See
"Comparative Evaluation of Interchange Design
Concepts" for concerns at each interchange. |
Constructs new ramps closer to
properties at the following locations:
Curry Road (Int 25)
Putnam Road (Mainline Barrier 2)
May construct new ramps closer to properties on
Schoolhouse Road, Western Avenue, Rapp Road, and
Washington Avenue Extension at Interchange 24. |
Constructs new ramps closer to
properties at the following locations:
Russell Road (Mainline Barrier 2)
Curry Road (Int 25)
Putnam Road (Mainline Barrier 4)
May construct new ramps closer to properties on
Schoolhouse Road, Western Avenue, Rapp Road, and
Washington Avenue Extension at Interchange 24. |
| Potential Ecological Concerns |
Potential concerns with the
Normans Kill and its tributary. No direct
construction in the Normans Kill.
Up to 1.5 to 6 acres of construction within Albany
Pine Bush Preserve. |
Potential concerns with the
Normans Kill and its tributary. No direct
construction in the Normans Kill.
Up to 2 acres of construction within Albany Pine
Bush Preserve. |
Up to 2 acres of construction
within Albany Pine Bush Preserve. |
| Potential Aesthetic & Visual
Concerns |
May construct new ramps closer to
developed properties near Interchanges 23, 24, and
25. See "Comparative Evaluation of Interchange
Design Concepts" for concerns at each interchange. |
This comment
applies to the Two and Four Mainline Barriers
Concepts:
Constructs Thruway facilities closer to developed
properties on Russell Road.
May construct new ramps closer to developed
properties on Schoolhouse Road, Western Avenue,
Rapp Road, and Washington Avenue Extension at
Interchange 24.
Constructs Thruway facilities closer to
developed properties south of Curry Road at
Interchange 25 and south of Putnam Road at
Mainline Barrier 2 (Two Barrier Concept) and
Mainline Barrier 4 (Four Barrier Concept). |
| Acquisition of Businesses,
Recreation Areas
And Churches |
May require acquisition of
commercial properties on Washington Avenue
Extension and Curry Road. See "Comparative
Evaluation of Interchange Design Concepts" for
acquisitions at each interchange. |
This comment
applies to the Two and Four Mainline Barriers
Concepts:
May require acquisition of two commercial
properties on Washington Avenue Extension.
Potential acquisition of portions of the
Preserve, including relocation of trails at the
Rensselaer Lake Preserve and Park portion of the
Albany Pine Bush Preserve. |
| Tandem Lot Concerns |
Relocation of the tandem lot at
Interchange 23 is required because access cannot
be provided.
Relocation of the tandem lot at Interchange 24 may
be required as a result of toll plaza and ramp
reconstruction. |
This comment
applies to the Two and Four Mainline Barriers
Concepts:
Relocation of the tandem lot at Interchange 23 is
required because access cannot be provided.
Direct access to the Interchange 24 tandem lot
is provided by a new diamond interchange.
Relocation of the tandem lot at Interchange 25A
is required because access cannot be provided. |
| Utility Concerns |
May require relocation of overhead
electric lines located near Interchange 23 and
Interchange 25. See "Comparative Evaluation of
Interchange Design Concepts" for concerns at each
interchange. |
This comment
applies to the Two and Four Mainline Barriers
Concepts:
No major utility concerns have been identified for
these concepts. |
| Maximize Use of Existing
Infrastructure |
| Thruway Facilities |
Ramps at each interchange may
require replacement. Replacement of Interchange 24
NB exit and SB entrance ramps would be required
for all concepts.
See "Comparative Evaluation of Interchange Design
Concepts" for specific replacement locations at
each interchange. |
Replaces the following ramps:
Thruway SB exit ramp at Interchange 23
All Thruway ramps at Interchange 24
Thruway WB exit ramp at Interchange 25 |
Replaces the following ramps:
All Thruway ramps at Interchange 24 |
| Non-Thruway Facilities |
Ramps and roadways may be
eliminated or replaced around each interchange.
Northway Exit 1 ramps are maintained for all
concepts.
See "Comparative Evaluation of Interchange
Design Concepts" for specific replacement
locations at each interchange. |
This comment
applies to the Two and Four Mainline Barriers
Concepts:
Replaces 1600 ft of the ramp from Carman Road to
the Interchange 25 toll plaza. |
| Minimize Project Costs |
| Order of Magnitude Construction
Cost |
$139 M - $208 M |
$126 M |
$136 M |
| OTHER
CONSIDERATIONS |
| Maintenance and Operations
(between MP 135 and MP 160, four toll
plazas contain 34 existing toll lanes) |
Four toll plazas contain 48 toll
lanes: 10 lanes at Interchange 23
18 lanes at Interchange 24
14 lanes at Interchange 25
6 lanes at Interchange 25A |
Four toll plazas contain 30 toll
lanes: 12 lanes at Mainline
Barrier 1
4 lanes at Interchange 23 SB exit ramp
7 lanes at Interchange 25 WB exit ramp
7 lanes at Mainline Barrier 2 |
Four toll plazas contain 39 toll
lanes: 12 lanes at Mainline
Barrier 1
7 lanes at Mainline Barrier 2
13 lanes at Mainline Barrier 3
7 lanes at Mainline Barrier 4 |
| Special Construction
Considerations |
May require embankment on steep
slopes at Interchange 23 resulting in 2-years of
slope construction and pre-loading prior to ramp
construction. May require removal
of solid waste at the Albany Landfill near
Interchange 24.
The actions involving permanent removal of
lands dedicated as part of the Albany Pine Bush
Preserve may require the approval of two
consecutive sessions of the New York State
Legislature.
See "Comparative Evaluation of Interchange
Design Concepts" for additional considerations at
each interchange. |
This comment
applies to the Two and Four Barrier Concepts:
The actions involving permanent removal of lands
dedicated as part of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve
may require the approval of two consecutive
sessions of the New York State Legislature. |
| Staging |
The improvements at each
interchange could be completed separately from
each other and other Thruway improvement projects. |
This comment
applies to the Two and Four Barrier Concepts:
All improvements included in the Mainline Barrier
Concepts must be completed simultaneously as one
project to maintain toll collection. |
1. See "Comparative Evaluation of
Interchange Design Concepts" for comparison of concept
features at each interchange.
2. Some intersections included are
improved as a result of work to address intersection
capacity needs not related to Thruway improvement,
not work required to meet Thruway capacity needs.
The Mainline Barrier Concepts do not include
improvements to non-Thruway facilities at
interchanges.
3. Unknown number of residential
properties are under construction on Marra Lane west
of Interchange 25.
