Making 787 Safer

I live near the area where a young girl who was crossing the street last year, in the crosswalk, was struck and killed. It was a horribly sad story and now lawmakers, the DOT and Cohoes are all doing their part to make it safer for all.It has been almost a year to the day that sixteen year old Brittany Knight was struck and killed crossing 787 near Bridge Street in Cohoes. Cohoes Mayor Shawn Morse vowed to make that stretch of 787 safer and to enforce the speed limit in his city.

The new improvements would be similar to Route 9 in Saratoga Springs. There will be medians, lighting, curbs and trees lining the area. The redesigned Cohoes Boulevard, as Route 787 is also known, will slow traffic, improve pedestrian safety and encourage drivers to explore the city. $15 million dollars has been secured and improvements have already begun and will be completed in time for construction to begin in 2018 and be completed in 2019. The revamped Route 787 could see speed limits lower than the current 40 mph.

I welcome the change if it makes that area safer. I have been guilty of coming from 787 and not realizing that the speed limit goes from 55 miles an hour down to 40. I think these improvements will all make us drive safer and make it safer for those in our community. Well done mayor and the lawmakers to make it happen.