Send a message to our leaders that Cherry Avenue Extension is unsafe for motorists and pedestrians and we demand change!!! Reduce the speed limit to below 45MPH, build a protected pedestrian path that connects Route 85 to the Albany County Rail Trail, and redesign its intersections to current highway safety standards!

Last summer Brittany Knight was tragically killed while attempting to cross Route 787 in Cohoes. Like Route 787, Cherry Avenue Extension is a 4 lane divided highway with a posted speed limit of 55MPH, no side walks, no cross walks and no traffic signals at its intersections. It is a one mile highway to nowhere that divides our neighborhoods and presents a fatal hazard to pedestrians and motorists alike. Join me in urging our leaders to take action to prevent the tragedy in Cohoes from happening in Bethlehem by signing this petition to:

1- As an immediate action, lower the speed limit on Cherry Avenue Extension to at least 45mph. This will improve safety for both motorist as well as pedestrians in particularly at the intersection of McCormack Road North. As the maximum speed limit on either end of Cherry Avenue Extension is already 45mph, it will have negligible impact (at most 15 second longer commute) on traffic. This will cost the State the price of a few speed limit signs, takes little preparation or effort to implement and will have an immediate impact as it is well proven that the probability and seriousness of injury and death increases with vehicle speed.

2- Install a pedestrian path protected by a barrier on the north side of Cherry Avenue Extension connecting Route 85 to the Albany County Rail Trail and beyond within a year. This will eliminate the risk to pedestrians transiting along Cherry Avenue Extension as well as attempting to cross at intersections. Once on the rail trail, pedestrians can transit under Cherry Avenue Extension via an existing underpass.

3- Redesign the McCormack Road North/Cherry Avenue Extension intersection to current safety standards within two years by either;

- Adding appropriate acceleration/merge lanes and extending the existing deceleration lane, or

- Installing a roundabout similar to those on Route 85, or

- Installing traffic lights with appropriate pedestrian cross walks/signage.