Lansing Board of Education President Glenn Swanson and Vice President Christine Iacobucci reported to the school board last week on the Town Transportation study that was presented December 22nd at a Lansing Planning Board meeting.  The study was conducted by Cornell Design Connect students, who developed the study over two and a half months last year.

"In that study they had some recommendations for the school district to consider," Swanson said.  "They didn't really extend the study all the way to the school campus, which in some of our opinions was an oversight."

Most of the recommendations had to do with the creation of connector-trails from the Lansing schools that would thread through the Town to the Town Center area, as well as south to the Village of Lansing.  The study says that some residents are concerned about existing traffic originating at the school campus and moving southward through the Town.  The Design Connect students also noted that if a town center is developed north of Route 34B, across the street from the Town ball fields, it could create more traffic that would impact the school campus, especially during busy traffic hours.

"If the Town Center is developed, it is likely that the intersection of East Shore Road and 34B will experience increased traffic congestion during peak hours, which has been cited by residents and assessments as an area of concern for both congestion and safety reasons," the study says. "Residential development south of 34B will likely increase traffic congestion for school related travel in the morning and afternoon."

Town Officials say the Design Connect students have expressed an interest in expanding the study during the Spring Cornell semester.  Swanson said that would provide an opportunity to gather more data on traffic impacts to the school campus.

"There was some discussion about extending it here in the next round, and engaging us in the comprehensive plan that is being developed for Lansing," he said.

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