Niskayuna resident’s petition urges state to make safety improvements on Route 7 after fatal crashes

A Niskayuna resident has started a petition urging the state to improve safety along Route 7 in Niskayuna in the wake of a series of fatal crashes.

Joe Yakel started a petition on MoveOn.org and it already has more than one thousand signatures.

Yakel said he has lived on Vrooman off Route 7 for more than 20 years. He has seen many car accidents and injuries.

“There’s been recommendations for years to put crosswalks and do things to improve safety for pedestrians and motorists. Nothing has happened,” he said.

A person died Feb. 26 just before 2:45 p.m. on Route 7 near Hickory Road.

Assemblyman Robert Smullen’s son, AJ, was struck by a vehicle in around that same location over a year ago. He died a couple weeks later from his injuries.

Yakel said drivers go too fast on the road, which has a posted speed limit 40 mph in that area where he lives. 

“You can’t safely cross the road without literally taking your life into your hands. There’s no way to get across without running across,” he said.

He believes traffic lights should be installed at the intersection of Route 7 and Vrooman Avenue and at the intersection at Hickory Drive. These are on either side of Bellevue Women’s Center.

The slight curve in the road is also an issue, according to Yakel.

“You can’t really see what’s over the hill, until you’re around that bend. If somebody is on a bicycle or somebody is going to try to walk or run across the street, it’s too late.”

Yakel said the Niskayuna Police Department is doing what it can, but he believes it needs to be a multijurisdictional effort since the road covers two counties. State Police have more resources.

It would reduce fatalities and accidents on the road if there was a more sustained police presence.

This is not a partisan issue. It’s a safety issue, says Yakel.

He said he wants to raise awareness of the problem and hopefully someone on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s staff takes notice.

“If we don’t address it, there’s going to be more fatalities,” he said.

MORE: Route 7 Safety Petition