By Michelle O’Riley

VOORHEESVILLE — A village resident of 72 years has noticed an increase in the number of vehicles speeding in and out of Voorheesville.

In a letter to the Enterprise editor this week, Harold Flansburg described his concerns of speeding vehicles along North Main Street. Flansburg’s home is located on the northern tip of the village where the posted speed limit is 30 miles per hour. However, according to Flansburg, cars regularly enter the village at speeds in excess of 60 to 70 miles per hour.
"There should be two signs to control the speed limit," said Flansburg.

Albany County Traffic Engineer Jim Mearkle said that a second sign posting a speed zone ahead is only required if an obstruction, like a curve in the road, would decrease a driver’s ability to see an upcoming speed-limit sign. The stretch of road on North Main Street leading into the village is straight and does not obstruct the visibility of the current speed limit sign.
"Speed limits on local roads outside of villages and cities is kind of complicated," said Mearkle.

Any requests for additional signs would have to be submitted to the state’s Department of Transportation by the village and county since the street is in the village but considered a county road. The Department of Transportation would then complete a study based on the request and would determine if there were a need for new signage.

According to Flansburg, he and his wife have made several calls to the village and sheriff’s department over the past three years with little or no response.
"I would like to ride bicycles with my wife but do not want to get hit by a speeding car," said Flansburg.

The village office had no record of complaints of speeding and stated that the sheriff’s department is in charge of enforcing the traffic law on that road. The village does not have its own police department.

Captain William Riley of the Albany County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that any vehicle or traffic complaints should be directed to the Voorheesville patrol station since the sheriff’s department is responsible for enforcing the traffic law in the area.

The Voorheesville patrol station covers about 175 square miles and is staffed by 28 uniformed members, five investigators, and two civilians.

Riley did not recall any recent calls about speeding on that stretch of road. According to station records, the last official complaint for the area was in September of 2005 for vehicles parked along the roadway.

Flansburg said he was going to put together a petition but does not feel like anyone cares.
"The neighbors don’t like it but won’t do anything about it," he said. "As long as they don’t get hit by the cars, they don’t care."