NEW) YORK Department of KATHY HOCHUL STATEOF Governor OPPORTUNITY. Transportation MARIE THERESE DOMINGUEZ Commissioner ECEIVI 15 ANDREW D. STILES, P.E. Acting Regional Director MAY 3 1 2025 BY: May 22, 2025 Elizabeth Pfister Town of Windsor Clerk 124 Main Street Windsor, NY 13865 Dear Elizabeth Pfister: RE: SPEED LIMIT REDUCTION NEW YORK STATE ROUTE 79 TOWN OF WINDSOR, BROOME COUNTY This is a response to your request. The Region 9 Traffic Safety and Mobility Office (TSMO) has completed their review. The NYSDOT follows the practice of setting regulatory speed limits at the 85th percentile speed. The 85th percentile speed is a baseline value for which 85% of vehicles travel at, or below. The consensus of traffic engineers throughout the industry is that the appropriate value for a posted speed limit will almost always be established by the 85th percentile speed. Studies have shown that setting the regulatory speed limit lower than the 85th percentile speed typically results in speed differentials between vehicles. Some drivers will obey the lower posted speed while others will feel it is unreasonable and simply ignore it. This disrupts the uniform traffic flow and increases accident potential. Dramatic differences in vehicle speeds can lead to aggressive driving, tailgating, unsafe passing, and accidents associated with these conditions. The 85th percentile speed was measured at two locations on NYS Route 79 within the 55 MPH zones. Measured speeds were found to be 52 and 56 MPH. Based on the analysis of the speed data collected if the speed limit were to be reduced to 45 MPH, 57% and 88%, respectively, of drivers would be in violation for speeding. Department directives indicate that no more than 30% of drivers be put in violation of a new speed limit. Therefore, a lower speed limit is not appropriate at this time. 50 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12232 www.dot.ny.gov As a precaution crashes were reviewed for the most recent available three years. Crashes were consistent with other roads statewide. Thank you for your interest in and support for the transportation system. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (607) 721-8715. Sincerely, hn Tony Signorelli, P. E. Regional Traffic Engineer HE