DOT DEIS data shows Community Grid would be

worse than doing nothing

March 21, 2019

The New York DOT ’s engineers prepared a voluminous Draft Environmental

Impact Statement (DEIS) in December 2016 as part of their study of Interstate
81. This document runs 11,609 pages and examines the consequences of
removing the I-81 viaduct and replacing it with a new viaduct or substituting in
its place improvements to a number of city streets that have been collectively
named the "Community Grid". At the time, the DOT was not considering a
tunnel alternative. As prescribed by law, the DEIS also examined a “No Build”
alternative, against which the other alternatives could be judged.

Recently Save81.org's engineers did a deeper dig into the DEIS, in which they
compared Community Grid traffic movements throughout the city with
comparable traffic movements that would be experienced under the “No Build
Alternative”.

This comparison is eye-opening.

They found there are 96 locations that would experience a Level of Service of
either E (“Severe Congestion”) or F (“Failure”) under a Community Grid
Alternative. Every one of these is considered an unacceptable circumstance.

Levels of Service are measured in seconds of delay, rated from A to F. Just like
in school, A is great, and F is failure. What’s more, there are bad F’s, worse F’s
and so on… also just like in school.

A typical traffic signal cycle is 60 seconds long. A LOS of F that is greater than 60
seconds means the average driver will not clear that intersection in a single
traffic signal cycle. In the tables attached, you will see F’s rated in the hundreds
– meaning drivers will inch forward, only to see the traffic signal up ahead turn
red once more, in some cases again and again.

Further, 90 of these locations would actually perform worse, and in many cases
far worse, than under the "No Build" condition. In other words, conditions would
be far worse under the Community Grid Alternative than if things were simply left
as they are today.

A summary of the Community Grid / No Build comparison is attached. It is a

compilation of data presented in the December 2016 DOT DEIS.
 Community Grid: 90 Locations that are Level of Service E or F
and worse than No Build
Community
No Build
Grid
Delay Delay
LOS LOS
(sec/veh) (sec/veh)
1 D-119 West St & Eastbound I-690 Ramps EB 2050 AM N/A N/A 91.60 F
2 W-21 S. Geddes St & Marcellus St WB 2020 PM 8.3 A 550.90 F
3 W-25 S. Geddes St & Grand Av/Shonnard St EB 2050 PM 1.5 A 205.40 F
4 D-116 Midland Av & W. MLK Jr Dr SB 2020 PM 6.6 A 122.90 F
5 U-1 N. Crouse Av & Burnet Av SB 2020 PM 0.2 A 111.50 F
6 D-110 Almond St & Van Buren St WB 2020 PM 3.5 A 104.30 F
7 W-21 S. Geddes St & Marcellus St NB 2050 PM 5.9 A 103.70 F
8 W-25 S. Geddes St & Grand Av/Shonnard St EB 2050 AM 2.6 A 80.70 F
9 W-21 S. Geddes St & Marcellus St NB 2020 AM 6.5 A 69.50 F
10 D-85 S. Townsend St & E. Water St NB 2050 AM 6.2 A 74.10 E
11 W-23 S. Geddes St & Gifford St NB 2050 PM 4.8 A 64.90 E
12 U-31 Irving Av & NY 92/E. Genesee St WB 2050 PM 7.8 A 63.50 E
13 D-76 US 11/S. State St & E. Jefferson St NB 2050 PM 6.7 A 61.30 E
14 W-3 Genant Dr & Spencer St EB 2050 AM 0.5 A 46.30 E
15 W-17 N. Geddes St & Wilkinson St NB 2020 PM 4.6 A 39.50 E
16 W-21 S. Geddes St & Marcellus St SB 2050 PM 4.4 A 36.60 E
17 N-4 US 11/N. Salina St & Danforth St NB 2020 PM 17.4 B 100.60 F
18 D-42 S. Salina St & Burt St and Cortland Av NB 2050 PM 10.7 B 94.20 F
19 W-18 N. Geddes St & Richmond Av NB 2050 PM 16.5 B 83.10 F
20 N-17 Park St & Hiawatha Blvd E. WB 2050 PM 13.4 B 81.20 F
21 W-22 S. Geddes St & Otisco St NB 2050 PM 10.0 B 77.00 E
22 D-72 US 11/S. State St & E. Water St SB 2050 PM 13.1 B 74.00 E
23 D-86 S. Townsend St & E. Washington St NB 2020 PM 18.7 B 65.90 E
24 W-23 S. Geddes St & Gifford St NB 2020 AM 14.5 B 61.50 E
25 N-17 Park St & Hiawatha Blvd E. WB 2050 AM 12.0 B 60.10 E
26 D-42 S. Salina St & Burt St and Cortland Av NB 2020 AM 10.8 B 59.50 E
27 U-43 Irving Av & Harrison St EB 2050 PM 14.4 B 59.40 E
28 D-73 US 11/S. State St & E. Washington St SB 2050 AM 11.3 B 58.40 E
29 D-112 Slocum Av/South Av & W. Onondaga St SB 2050 AM 14.5 B 57.20 E
30 U-42 Elizabeth Blackwell Dr & Harrison St SB 2050 PM 11.0 B 41.30 E
31 U-35 Comstock Av & NY 92/E. Genesee St NB 2050 AM 12.3 B 36.80 E
32 D-116 Midland Av & W. MLK Jr Dr EB 2020 PM 13.6 B 36.00 E
33 W-24 S. Geddes St & Seymour St WB 2020 AM 33.7 C 61.90 E
34 W-23 S. Geddes St & Gifford St WB 2050 PM 22.6 C 405.90 F
35 W-22 S. Geddes St & Otisco St WB 2050 PM 24.3 C 385.30 F
36 W-21 S. Geddes St & Marcellus St WB 2020 AM 22.6 C 249.50 F
37 W-24 S. Geddes St & Seymour St WB 2020 PM 21.4 C 191.80 F
38 D-71 US 11/S. State St & NY 5/Erie Blvd E. SB 2050 PM 20.3 C 164.30 F
39 W-25 S. Geddes St & Grand Av/Shonnard St NB 2050 AM 20.8 C 146.30 F
40 U-65 Comstock Av & Euclid Av NB 2020 AM 21.1 C 139.80 F
41 D-88 S. Townsend St & NY 92/E. Genesee St NB 2020 PM 21.4 C 135.80 F
42 W-19 N./S. Geddes St & Erie Blvd W. WB 2050 PM 20.8 C 130.00 F
43 W-20 S. Geddes St & W. Fayette St NB 2050 PM 28.2 C 122.40 F
44 D-84 N./S. Townsend St & NY 5/Erie Blvd E. WB 2050 AM 27.7 C 102.40 F
45 D-61 Montgomery St & E. Water St EB 2050 PM 29.3 C 98.30 F
46 D-61 Montgomery St & E. Water St NB 2050 PM 24.8 C 86.80 F
47 D-62 Montgomery St & E. Fayette St NB 2050 PM 23.9 C 85.20 F
48 U-35 Comstock Av & NY 92/E. Genesee St NB 2050 PM 15.5 C 70.90 F
49 D-85 S. Townsend St & E. Water St NB 2020 PM 22.0 C 77.50 E
50 D-75 US 11/S. State St & NY 92/E. Genesee St WB 2050 PM 33.3 C 72.90 E
51 W-15 N. Geddes St & NY 5/W. Genesee St NB 2020 PM 28.6 C 62.30 E
52 W-7 Solar St & Bear St WB 2020 AM 26.8 C 56.20 E
53 D-71 US 11/S. State St & NY 5/Erie Blvd E. SB 2050 AM 25.2 C 55.10 E
54 U-21 Walnut Av & E. Water St NB 2020 PM 17.3 C 44.90 E
55 W-17 N. Geddes St & Wilkinson St WB 2020 PM 35.0 D 339.10 F
56 D-40 S. Salina St & E./W. Adams St NB 2020 AM 42.1 D 183.90 F
57 W-20 S. Geddes St & W. Fayette St EB 2050 PM 42.6 D 137.70 F
58 U-65 Comstock Av & Euclid Av SB 2050 PM 36.2 D 117.70 F
59 D-39 S. Salina St & Harrison St and Onondaga St SB 2050 AM 46.0 D 96.50 F
60 U-65 Comstock Av & Euclid Av WB 2050 PM 42.7 D 91.40 F
61 W-20 S. Geddes St & W. Fayette St NB 2020 AM 38.9 D 83.40 F
62 U-63 Irving Av & Van Buren St NB 2050 PM 45.6 D 74.70 E
63 U-40 Westcott St & NY 92/E. Genesee St WB 2050 AM 39.0 D 71.00 E
64 U-16 Teall Av & Erie Blvd E. EB 2020 PM 52.8 D 70.30 E
65 D-14 N./S. Franklin St & Erie Blvd W. SB 2020 AM 38.7 D 65.50 E
66 D-21 N. Clinton St & NY 5/W. Genesee St SB 2020 PM 38.7 D 65.30 E
67 D-8 S. West St & W. Onondaga St EB 2050 AM 38.7 D 60.30 E
68 D-28 S. Clinton St & W. Adams St SB 2050 PM 45.1 D 60.10 E
69 U-65 Comstock Av & Euclid Av EB 2050 PM 38.5 D 59.20 E
70 U-58 University Av & Waverly Av SB 2050 PM 37.0 D 56.70 E
71 N-1 US 11/N. Salina St & Hiawatha Blvd E. NB 2050 PM 54.9 D 56.30 E
72 U-58 University Av & Waverly Av WB 2020 AM 37.8 D 55.30 E
73 U-47 Comstock Av & Harrison St NB 2050 AM 25.6 D 41.20 E
74 W-20 S. Geddes St & W. Fayette St WB 2050 PM 68.0 E 213.70 F
75 D-40 S. Salina St & E./W. Adams St NB 2050 PM 74.2 E 180.50 F
76 D-71 US 11/S. State St & NY 5/Erie Blvd E. WB 2050 AM 79.5 E 149.90 F
77 W-19 N./S. Geddes St & Erie Blvd W. NB 2020 AM 74.7 E 98.50 F
78 U-67 Comstock Av & Stratford St NB 2020 AM 44.2 E 91.90 F
79 D-51 S. Warren St & E. Water St WB 2020 PM 57.3 E 70.70 E
80 N-30 Teall Av & James St WB 2050 PM 56.7 E 69.20 E
81 U-16 Teall Av & Erie Blvd E. EB 2050 AM 61.6 E 62.50 E
82 U-45 University Av & Harrison St NB 2050 PM 55.1 E 61.60 E
83 W-17 N. Geddes St & Wilkinson St EB 2020 PM 63.3 F 257.30 F
84 D-73 US 11/S. State St & E. Washington St SB 2050 PM 99.8 F 201.40 F
85 W-19 N./S. Geddes St & Erie Blvd W. NB 2050 PM 81.2 F 175.80 F
86 D-73 US 11/S. State St & E. Washington St EB 2050 PM 93.3 F 168.20 F
87 W-20 S. Geddes St & W. Fayette St EB 2050 AM 104.2 F 144.60 F
88 U-67 Comstock Av & Stratford St SB 2050 PM 82.3 F 111.70 F
89 D-74 US 11/S. State St & E. Fayette St SB 2050 PM 103.1 F 104.60 F
90 U-59 Walnut Pl & Waverly Av EB 2050 PM 82.2 F 96.80 F

source: NYS DOT 2016 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

 Community Grid: 6 Locations that are Level of Service E or F
and better than No Build
Community
No Build
Grid
Delay Delay
LOS LOS
(sec/veh) (sec/veh)
1 D-97 S. McBride St & NY 92/E. Genesee St EB 2020 PM 74.4 E 65.5 E
2 N-3 US 11/N. Salina St & NY 298/Court St & Alford St WB 2050 PM 79.50 E 63.4 E
3 U-4 Westmoreland Av & Burnet Av WB 2020 PM 40.1 E 38.7 E
4 D-33 N. Salina St & E./W. Willow St SB 2020 AM 91.4 F 60.3 E
5 W-15 N. Geddes St & NY 5/W. Genesee St EB 2020 PM 207.3 F 155.4 F
6 W-5 Spencer St & Hiawatha Blvd W. SB 2050 PM 134.30 F 91.3 F

source: NYS DOT 2016 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

Community Grid: 90 Locations that are Level of Service E or F
and worse than No Build

E AM - WB
F PM - WB

E PM - NB

E PM - WB

F PM - NB
AM - WB F F PM - SB F AM - WB
E AM - SB E PM - WB
E AM - WB E AM - NB
E PM - SB
E PM - NB
PM - SB
F PM - EB F F PM - EB
E PM - EB
F PM - NB E AM - SB

E AM - EB
F PM - NB F PM - SB

E PM - WB F PM - NB
F PM - SB
PM - EB E

E PM - NB

E PM - WB

F AM - EB
E PM - NB

AM - SB E F PM - SB
PM - WB F F PM - EB PM - SB E AM - WB F F PM F - SBAM - WB
E PM - NB AM - SB E E AM - NB
E AM - SB E PM - NB
PM - SB E PME - SBPM - NB
F PM - NB F PMF - EB
F PME- EBPM - EB E AM - EB
F PM - NB E PM - EB
E AM - SB
PM - WB F F AM - NB F PM - NB
F PM - SB
F PM - NB E PM - WBF PM - NB
PM - EB E E AM - NB
E PM - NB E PM - WB
AM - EB F F AM - NB F PM - NB
PM - EB F F PM - NB E AM - WB
AM - WB F F AM - NB
PM - WB F F PM - NB AM - SB F E PM - NB
PM - SB E E E AM - WB
PM - WB F E PM - NB
PM - EB
PM - WB F E AM -NB
F AM - NB
E PM - NB PM - SB F
E AM - WB F PM - NB
F PM - WB
F AM - NB
AM - WB E
F PM - EB E AM - EB F PM - EB
PM - SB E
E AM - SB
E AM - NB
F PM - NB PM - WB F E PM - NB
AM - EB F F AM - NB
PM - EB F F PM - NB PM - WB F F AM - NB
PM - SB F E PM - EB
AM - WB F F AM - NB
PM - WB F F PM - NB PM - SB F F AM - NB
PM - WB F E PM - NB

E PM - EB
F PM - SB
PM - WB F E AM -NB
E PM - NB

E AM - WB
F PM - WB

F AM - NB
F PM - EB

Source: NYS DOT 2016 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

Community Grid: 6 Locations that are Level of Service E or F
and better than No Build

E PM - WB

F PM - SB

E PM - WB

F PM - EB

E PM - EB

E PM - EB

Source: NYS DOT 2016 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)