I am urging City leaders to eliminate the $1.2 million dollar roundabout from the Court Street Gateway Project. The roundabout is planned to be constructed at the intersection of Court and Exchange Street in downtown Binghamton. I have the following concerns: (1) there’s no statistical data on record with the City of Binghamton Police Department, New York State Department of Transportation or the Binghamton Metropolitan Transportation Study (BMTS) that shows the intersection is a hazard to motorists or pedestrians. (2) Construction of the roundabout could require a small portion of the lawn of the historic Broome County Courthouse. (3) A roundabout would be disproportionate to the Court and Exchange Street intersections. (4) A roundabout is unsightly and unnecessary. (5) The majority of residents is opposed to a roundabout and voiced their opinions, which are being ignored. (6) The plan does not include input from merchants and residents.

I recommended that the City could (1) abandon the roundabout altogether, leave the intersection as it is and reallocate the money towards other areas of the Court Street Gateway Project that were supported by local residents and business or (2) go back to the drawing board to develop an alternative plan for the intersection that the community supports.

To read more details on my position on the roundabout, please click here.

To see the news conference on the roundabout, please click here.