Genesee County, N.Y. (WBEN) - Congressman Chris Jacobs and Veteran Affairs official, Glenn Elliott unveiled a traffic analysis and safety study coordinated by the VA for the intersection of Indian Falls Road and State Route 77, an intersection where two army veterans passed as a result of a crash after attending a memorial service for the fellow veteran in September of 2021.
"One thing is clear, more needs to be done to make this intersection safer for our veterans and families who come to pay respects to our fallen heroes," said Congressman Jacobs. "I am committed to working with the veteran community to ensure meaningful changes are made."
"The overall purpose of this study is to have an independent third party assessment for the design of State Route and the Indian Falls Road and the cemetery ingress and egress," said Glenn Elliot from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The study highlights a significantly low crash modification factor (CMF) of a roundabout at the intersection, which was discussed by officials at the State Department of Transportation in March 2020 but was the idea was shot down by a VA official fearing that it would slow down construction of the cemetery, which opened in November of 2020. This roundabout is projected to decrease potential crashes by 87% according to the study.
Additional potential enhancements highlighted in the report include installing a flashing control beacon or sign-mounted flashing devices, which will alert motorists of the incoming intersection, installation of rumble strips, which will alert motorists when they are out of their lanes preventing potential sideswipes and upgrading signs and pavement markings, such as a large STOP marking on the street of the stop line and a placard that says: "CROSS TRAFFIC DOES NOT STOP."
The VA is asking for public comment to express safety ideas or concerns regarding the intersection. They are taking comments until the 26th of May. Individuals can make comment via email to the Department of Veterans Affairs by sending an email to vacoenvironment@va.gov.