Lark Street Infrastructure Project

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No, this plan is the current schematic plan developed for the Public Informational Meeting to show the public the status of design and solicit public comments.

This project will address the deteriorated pavement on Lark Street and remove the cobblestone intersections.  Where feasible, this project will incorporate elements of the 2020 Lark Street Improvement Study. This project aligns with the City’s goals to improve safety and mobility for all roadway users.

One component of this project is to replace regulatory traffic signage in poor or outdated condition, as well as infill missing parking regulation signs. Additional “pedestrian crossing” signs and “turning vehicles yield to pedestrian” signs will be installed where appropriate.

The purpose of this project is to rehabilitate the roadway pavement and improve pedestrian accommodations.  The decorative lamp posts, Lark Street banners, and majority of street trees will be retained. This project will not change the historic nature of Lark Street.

Lark Street, classified as an Urban Principal Arterial and Touring Route US-9W, is one of the few north-south arterials through the City. This designation and function will remain unchanged.

There are no “paths” or “lanes” solely dedicated to bicycles on Lark Street. Instead, the roadway provides a “shared” lane, where bicyclists are allowed to share and use the full travel lane with vehicular traffic. The proposed 4’ wide stamped asphalt strips at the signalized crosswalks will provide a minor vibration to motorists to promote traffic calming. The slight narrow indents in the pavement will be easily traversable by bicyclists. 

Raised intersections were considered as part of the 2020 Lark Street Improvement Study. However, the use of raised intersections and crosswalks is not recommended for Lark Street based on its functional classification and use as a Principal Arterial Classification (ref: NYSDOT Highway Design Manual, Chapter 25), including its use as an essential Emergency Response Route as well as a primary Transit Route. 

The existing sidewalks on Lark Street will be mostly retained under this project, with just a few areas of sidewalk reconstruction to repair isolated damaged sidewalk panels, as well as where new sidewalk extensions (“bumpouts”) are constructed at certain intersections. All sidewalks will be made compliant with New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

Yes, cast iron detectable warning plates will be used on all new ADA curb ramps and rehabilitated existing ramps. 

Yes, all public works projects use taxpayer dollars. This project is a locally administered federal aid project.  Federal dollars account for approximately 80 percent of the cost of federally eligible items of work. State and City funds are used for the remaining 20 percent.

The contract documents will restrict the contractor work hours to be weekdays between 7am and 7pm. 

Although a specific lighting product has not yet been selected, the string lights will be LED, color-adjustable, intensity-adjustable, and hooded (to focus lighting downward towards crosswalk). 

While the specific construction start date has not yet been determined, at this time construction is anticipated to start in the Spring 2023 (around May) and take approximately five (5) months to complete, concluding in the Fall of 2023 (around October).

The current design plan developed for the Public Informational Meeting shows the removal of nine (9) parking spaces total and two (2) existing trees along Lark Street. The plan also shows the installation of six (6) new trees to infill locations where trees have previously been cut down.

 A “business impact study” was not required as part of the planning process for this street rehabilitation project. However, the 2020 Lark Street Improvement Study was completed by the City Department of Planning & Development, the Albany Parking Authority, and the Lark Street BID. This study involved interagency coordination and formed an advisory team consisting of City officials, Common Council members, the Albany Parking Authority, and the Lark Street BID.  Throughout the study process, stakeholder engagement included business drop-ins, interviews with the neighborhood associations, Albany County, CDTA, and other local organizations. Meetings were also scheduled with individual property owners.  In addition, several public events and opportunities for feedback were offered. Some elements from this Study are being incorporated into this Lark Street Rehabilitation project. 

This project is a mill and resurfacing of Lark Street to address the deteriorated pavement condition. Additional project elements to be included, such as stamped asphalt vibration strips, sidewalk extensions (“bumpouts”), mid-block crosswalks, high visibility crosswalk stripping, and string lights are proven traffic calming elements. 

Most sidewalks on Lark Street are in good condition. Sidewalk panels are being replaced at the new sidewalk extensions, at tree pit locations, and any panel that has been damaged. In addition, all sidewalks will be power washed.

Bollards were originally contemplated as part of the potential raised intersection concepts discussed in the 2020 Lark Street Improvement Study to separate the vehicle and pedestrian space. However, the need for bollards no longer exists, as raised intersections are not proposed as part of the current project. 

The new mid-block crosswalks near the intersections of Hamilton Street and Chestnut Street were recommended improvements developed in the 2020 Lark Street Improvement Study.

Signal timing and changes to the signal operations are not within the scope of this project.