The Nott Street Safety Improvement Project could soon be moving another step closer to construction. The $1.5 million project aims to make the sidewalks and crosswalks safer, while adding new lights and reducing speed between Balltown Road and Clifton Park Road in Niskayuna.

"The number one goal is safety,” said Michelle Ostrelich, a Schenectady County Legislator who represents Niskayuna. “Safety for pedestrians who walk and folks who drive to this strip to shop."

But the final design proposed, which Schenectady County legislators will vote on Tuesday, isn't sitting well with residents on nearby Via Del Mar. That's because the current proposal has moved the entrance and exit of the Co-Op parking lot from Nott Street to the north-end of their road.

"I think it's important to remember that we deal with traffic on a basis as it is,” resident Michelle Hunter said.

"The street's fine as it is, and their plan was changed at the last moment,” resident Matthew Bramble said.

Bramble says he and other residents were under the impression there was going to be a barrier at the north-end of Via Del Mar. He says that would have turned their road into a dead-end, taking away the option from cars being able to turn left on Via Del Mar, and only right turns, back toward Nott Street.

"We thought that great there would be even less traffic,” Bramble said. “But that barrier disappeared on April 24 when they announced it."

"Bringing the traffic down with 20 to 30 children, I don't think is the best idea," said Ronald Johnson, another resident.

Ostrelich says the barrier was suggested and discussed on earlier plans. But she says it's not part of the county project because Via Del Mar is a town road, not a county road.

"There's many options though to make sure that diversion of any traffic flow on to side streets is minimized,” Ostrelich said.  

Town Supervisor Yasmine Syed says the town supports the county's plan. She says it will commission an engineering study of its own. Syed says options like a barrier, a cul-de-sac, or guiding traffic away from Via Del Mar back to Nott Street, are all on the table.

"So we make sure that from a holistic perspective, everything's working together for the benefit of not just the businesses and that corridor on Nott Street,” Syed said. “But also for all of the resident on the side streets."