|
Interchange 24 |
| Evaluation Criterion |
Concept C |
Concept H (Exit 1 Flyover) |
Concept J (Exit 1 & Western Ave Flyover) |
Concept K (Western Ave Flyover) |
| PROPOSED ACTION |
| Description |
The toll plaza and
ramps would be reconstructed west of their existing location.
A new diamond interchange would provide access to the tandem
lot. |
The toll plaza
would be split into two plazas located side by side. The
Thruway ramps would be reconstructed west of their existing
location. E-ZPass only ramps would be constructed north of
Washington Avenue Extension from the Thruway NB to the
Northway NB and from the Northway SB to the Thruway SB. |
The toll plaza
would be split into two plazas located side by side. The
Thruway ramps would be reconstructed west of their existing
location. E-ZPass only ramps would be constructed from the
Thruway NB to the Northway NB, from the Thruway EB to the
Northway NB, and from the Northway SB to the Thruway WB and
SB. |
The toll plaza
would be split into two plazas located side by side. The
Thruway ramps would be reconstructed west of their existing
location. E-ZPass only ramps would be constructed from the
Thruway NB to the Northway NB, between Schoolhouse Road and
Washington Avenue Extension, and from the Northway SB to the
Thruway SB. |
|
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 |
Yes |
| Freeway
Merge/Diverge Level-of-Service |
All operate at LOS
D or better. |
All operate at LOS
C or better. |
All operate at LOS
C or better. |
All operate at LOS
C or better. |
| Safety |
Increases weaving
distance at toll plaza. Concrete barrier at toll plaza
separates opposing traffic movements.
New toll plaza provides overhead walkway for Thruway
employees to access toll booths.
Removes left-turning trucks at toll plaza by providing
separate tandem lot access. |
Increases weaving
distance at toll plaza. Concrete barrier at toll plaza
separates opposing traffic movements.
New toll plazas provide overhead walkway for Thruway
employees to access toll booths.
Removes left-turning trucks at toll plaza by relocating
tandem lot. |
Increases weaving
distance at toll plaza. Concrete barrier at toll plaza
separates opposing traffic movements.
New toll plazas provide overhead walkway for Thruway
employees to access toll booths.
Removes left-turning trucks at toll plaza by providing
separate tandem lot access. |
Increases weaving
distance at toll plaza. Concrete barrier at toll plaza
separates opposing traffic movements.
New toll plazas provide overhead walkway for Thruway
employees to access toll booths.
Removes left-turning trucks at toll plaza by relocating
tandem lot. |
| Improve
Regional Mobility |
| Thruway Facilities |
| Improvements |
This comment applies to Concepts C, H, J, and K:
Increased capacity at toll plaza would reduce congestion and
delay. |
| Concerns |
Vehicles traveling
between the Thruway south of Interchange 24 and the toll plaza
would be required to travel an additional 0.6 miles west to
the relocated Interchange 24 ramps. |
This comment applies to Concepts H, J, and K: No
concerns identified. |
| Non-Thruway
Facilities |
| Improvements |
No additional
direct connection would be provided compared to existing
conditions. |
E-ZPass only ramps
would provide a direct connection from the Thruway NB to the
Northway NB and from the Northway SB to the Thruway SB. |
E-ZPass only ramps
would provide a direct connection from the Thruway EB to the
Northway NB and from the Northway WB to the Thruway WB and SB. |
E-ZPass only ramps
would provide a direct connection from the Thruway NB to the
Northway NB and from the Northway SB to the Thruway SB. |
| Concerns |
This comment applies to Concepts C, H, J, and K:
No
concerns identified. |
| No. of
Intersections Operating at LOS E or worse |
| 2024 No-Build
Conditions |
LOS does not change at any intersections
included in the study area. |
| 2024 Build
Conditions |
|
Minimize Acquisition of Developed Properties |
| Right-of-Way
Required |
Requires:
15 ± Acres |
Minimizes
right-of-way required. Requires: 10 ± Acres |
Avoids acquisition
of developed properties. Requires: 15 ± Acres |
Minimizes
right-of-way required. Requires: 10 ± Acres |
| No. of Full
Acquisitions Req’d (approx.) |
|
|
|
|
| Residential |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Commercial |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Undeveloped |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Minimize Negative Socio-Economic and Environmental Concerns |
| Potential Wetland
Concerns |
Avoids filling
wetland as much as possible. Results in filling of:
4 ± Acres |
Avoids filling
wetland as much as possible. Results in filling of:
4 ± Acres |
Results in filling
of:
6 ± Acres |
Minimizes filling
wetland. Results in filling of: 1 ± Acres |
| Potential Noise
Benefits |
This comment applies to Concepts C, H, J, and K: Reduces
noise by decreasing congestion at toll plaza. |
| Potential Noise
Concerns |
This comment applies to Concepts C and H: Minimizes
potential noise concerns to residential properties. Constructs
new ramps closer to developed properties on Rapp Road and
Washington Avenue Extension. |
This comment applies to Concepts J and K: Constructs new
ramps closer to developed properties on Rapp Road, Washington
Avenue Extension, and Schoolhouse Road. |
| Potential
Ecological Concerns |
Minimizes
construction in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Up to 1.5 acres
of construction within the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. |
Up to 2.5 acres of
construction within Albany Pine Bush Preserve. |
Up to 6 acres of
construction within Albany Pine Bush Preserve. |
Minimizes
construction in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Up to 1.5 acres
of construction within the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. |
| Potential
Aesthetic & Visual Concerns |
This comment applies to Concepts C and H: Constructs new
ramps closer to developed properties on Rapp Road and
Washington Avenue Extension. |
This comment applies to Concepts J and K: Constructs new
ramps closer to developed properties on Rapp Road, Washington
Avenue Extension, and Schoolhouse Road. |
| Acquisition of
Businesses, Recreation Areas And Churches |
Reconstructed
ramps require acquisition of 3 commercial buildings on
Washington Avenue Extension and two buildings at the Albany
Landfill Rapp Road facility. 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. |
Reconstructed ramps
require acquisition of 1 commercial building 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. |
Avoids acquisition
of businesses. 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. |
Reconstructed
ramps require acquisition of 1 commercial building 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 |
Access to tandem
lot is provided by a new diamond interchange on the Thruway
mainline. |
Relocation of the
tandem lot required because full access cannot be provided at
the reconstructed toll plaza. |
Access to tandem
lot is provided by new ramps at Interchange 24. |
Relocation of the
tandem lot required because full access cannot be provided at
the reconstructed toll plaza. |
| Utility Concerns |
This comment applies to Concepts C, H, J, and K:
No major concerns identified. |
| Maximize Use of
Existing Infrastructure |
| Thruway Facilities |
Replaces Thruway
ramps. |
This comment applies to Concepts H, J, and K: Replaces
Thruway NB exit and SB entrance ramps. |
| Non-Thruway
Facilities |
- Replaces 1000 ft of the ramp from the Northway SB to the
Interchange 24 toll plaza.
- Requires reconstruction of 2500 ft of Washington Avenue
Extension.
- Requires closure of 650 ft of frontage road parallel to
Washington Avenue Extension.
|
- Replaces 1000 ft of the ramp from the Northway SB to the
Interchange 24 toll plaza.
- Requires reconstruction of 2500 ft of Washington Avenue
Extension.
|
- Requires reconstruction of 2500 ft of Washington Avenue
Extension.
|
- Replaces 1000 ft of the ramp from the Northway SB to the
Interchange 24 toll plaza.
- Requires reconstruction of 2500 ft of Washington Avenue
Extension.
|
| Minimize Project
Costs |
| Order of Magnitude
Construction Cost |
$97 M |
$83 M |
$67 M |
$76 M |
| OTHER
CONSIDERATIONS |
| Maintenance and
Operations |
Six (6) additional
lanes required at the toll plaza compared to existing. |
This comment applies to Concepts H, J, and K: Four (4)
additional lanes required at the toll plaza compared to
existing. |
| Engineering
Concerns |
No concerns
identified. |
Grade on the E-ZPass
ramp from the Thruway to the Northway NB exceeds 8%. |
Grade on the E-ZPass
ramp from the Thruway to the Northway NB exceeds 10%. |
No concerns
identified. |
| Special
Construction Considerations |
Construction of
the proposed Thruway ramps requires removal of buried solid
waste and relocation of two buildings at the Albany Landfill
Rapp Road facility. 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. |
This comment applies to Concepts H, J, and K: 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. |
| Environmental Review Process |
This comment applies to Concepts C, H, J,
and K: The improvements at Interchange 24 could be
completed separately from other Thruway improvement projects. |
