For More Information Contact:
Mark Debald Transportation Program Administrator 845.486.3600
Poughkeepsie ... The Dutchess County Transportation Council (DCTC), in consultation with state, county and local agencies, is excited to unveil four planning concepts for the Route 9/44/55 interchange in Poughkeepsie. The proposed designs, which are the product of extensive work done by the consultant-supported project team, show a range of possibilities for reimaging this critical interchange and tackling transportation safety and reliability issues in the area. The concepts - which should be viewed as long-range ideas, and not actual engineering level designs - can be reviewed at any time as part of an online, virtual presentation available through the Dutchess County Transportation Council website at www.dutchessny.gov/dctc or the project website at www.poughkeepsie94455.com/virtual-meeting.
The virtual presentation introduces the four concepts, reviewing their strengths and weaknesses in addressing safety, traffic operations, and community character. To help visualize these planning ideas, the presentation includes microsimulation videos showing the traffic patterns for each concept. Throughout the presentation, participants will be asked to answer some simple survey questions to share their thoughts about the designs.
Dutchess County Executive Molinaro said, “We’re eager to show the public some of the concepts being considered to make the 9/44/55 interchange work better for the county and local community. I often drive through this location and can say first-hand that it’s a challenge to negotiate the weaves on and off Route 9 – and that’s coming from a resident, so how much more challenging is for visitors to our area? It will be a challenge to secure the federal and state funds necessary to ultimately construct any one of these concepts, but we need to start somewhere, and the first step is to create an informed, bold vision of what might work. I encourage the public to give these ideas a look.”
City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison said, “We look forward to the Transportation Council sharing with the public these visions for the 9/44/55 interchange. This is arguably the most important gateway into the City of Poughkeepsie, and we are eager to make it a welcoming and safe experience for all. The Transportation Council should be applauded for looking at ways to improve safety and traffic flow in this area.”
Town of Poughkeepsie Supervisor Jon Baisley said, “We are excited to see the 9.44.55 study moving forward. This is the beginning of a process that has been long overdue. These routes should be welcoming, and not places drivers try to avoid due to congestion and accidents on a daily basis. Changes need to be made to the interchange for the safety of the traveling public, and the arterials should be addressed to work on a more pedestrian friendly corridor.”
The DCTC initiated Poughkeepsie 9.44.55 in late 2019 to examine how the Route 9 interchange and 44/55 arterials might be redesigned to make them safer and more reliable for drivers and those who walk, bike, or use transit, while also making them work better for nearby neighborhoods.
The initiative is a cooperative effort of the Dutchess County Transportation Council, New York State Department of Transportation, Dutchess County, and the City and Town of Poughkeepsie. Funding for Poughkeepsie 9.44.55 comes from the Federal Highway and Transit Administration through the DCTC’s planning program. For more information, please visit the DCTC website at www.dutchessny.gov/dctc or contact us by email at dctc@dutchessny.gov or phone at (845) 486-3600.
