A recent fatal accident on Route 209 has intensified efforts by Hurley Town Supervisor Mike Boms to lower the speed limit, a request that has repeatedly been denied by state transportation officials.
Boms noted that the town adopted three resolutions in June of the previous year, one of which sought to reduce the speed limit on Route 209 from 55 mph to 40 mph. The request focused particularly on the area near Russell Road, adjacent to a rail trail parking lot and crosswalk, which has seen numerous collisions and close calls. Additional proposals included reducing the speed limits on all town roads from 35 mph to 25 mph and lowering the speed limit around Myers Elementary School to 15 mph.
Despite these efforts, the state rejected the proposals. In response, officials cited adherence to the “85th percentile” standard—a national guideline that recommends setting speed limits within 5 mph of the speed at which 85 percent of vehicles are traveling. According to data collected on Route 209 through Hurley, that benchmark is 59 mph, making a 40 mph limit inconsistent with this criterion.
Boms criticized the policy, arguing that it effectively favors drivers who exceed current speed limits. He believes that had the speed limit been reduced in the targeted section—from Wynkoop Road to Bessal Road—the recent fatality might have been avoided or at least less severe.
Adding to his frustration, Boms pointed out a neighboring town—Marbletown—where the speed limit drops to 40 mph along Route 209, a condition he claims should be equally applicable in Hurley given similar traffic and safety concerns. He emphasized the presence of a popular rail trail entrance in Hurley as a justification for increased pedestrian protections.
State Department of Transportation officials, however, remained firm in their position. In a June 11 letter, Assistant Engineer Mark Moran explained that reducing the speed limit below 55 mph would place most drivers in violation and necessitate ongoing law enforcement efforts to ensure compliance. A similar explanation was offered by Senior Engineering Technician Niven St. Gelais in response to the request for lowering town road speed limits, where the 85th percentile was measured at 37 mph.
According to Boms, the state also labeled the Hurley segment of Route 209 as a “pass-through,” suggesting that the current speeds reflect normal driver behavior for such routes. He warned that the existing policy puts pedestrians and other motorists at continued risk, asserting that more incidents are likely if changes are not made.
Join the family! 
