"I don’t say hate a lot, but I hate 9W. It has caused me to want to move from Milton a number of times. It’s a waiting game for someone else to die on that horrible road." -Emily B., a concerned Milton resident

If you live in or travel through Marlboro or Milton, it's doubtful you have many positive things to say about the safety conditions on U.S. Route 9W, a north-south road that runs through the Town of Marlborough, New York. Most of us are forced to travel on 9W in order to go to work, bring our children to school, or patronize local businesses. 

Lives have been lost in accidents that could have been prevented with safety upgrades. Injuries sustained in accidents have made irreversible impacts on our health and livelihoods. Least concerning, but still extremely disruptive, are the constant derailments of our schedules when accident investigations shut down 9W for prolonged periods. (How many times have you received a text that your child's bus is running behind schedule due to an accident on 9W?)

In 2018, a Route 9W Corridor Management Plan was conducted, and included recommendations for dozens of changes. The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is listed as the primary responsible agency for these upgrades, since 9W is a state road. To this day, almost none of these changes—including reduced speed limits and turning lanes at some of 9W's most notoriously dangerous intersections—have yet to materialize seven years later.

Despite pleas from residents and town officials, and concrete evidence of the dangers posed by this specific stretch of road (465 accidents between 2020 and 2024 alone, resulting in 142 injuries and 4 fatalities)—our calls for attention and the need for safety measures have been largely ignored. 

We cannot waste any more time waiting. The NYSDOT must prioritize upgrading Route 9W according to the recommendations made in the 2018 Corridor Management Plan—particularly the addition of turning lanes and reducing the speed limit. By signing this petition, you will help raise our voices to the necessary authorities to prioritize our safety. Every day that passes without necessary action taken by the NYSDOT potentially risks another life.

We do not have to accept this as our reality, and we cannot become apathetic or complacent. Join us in making Route 9W safer for all. Sign this petition today to demand the NYSDOT does its duty to protect the people of Marlborough.

Learn more about our efforts at safe9w.org.

Read the 2018 Corridor Management Plan.