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Highway Department FAQ's

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1. How do I report damage to my mailbox?

If you think that our plows may have damaged your mailbox, please complete the Service Request/Complaint Form, and we will get back to you promptly. For more information, please see the Snow and Ice Policy for the Town of Red Hook.

2. How can I best manage my garbage and recycle receptacles during winter months?

Where & How to Place Your Garbage and Recycle Receptacles During Winter  Heavy snow accumulation, icy roads and/or poor visibility during winter maintenance activities can make it difficult for snowplows to avoid garbage receptacles placed alongside the road. During snowstorms it may be necessary to postpone putting your trash out on pick-up days. Knowing how to make waste collection as easy as possible is important, so here are a few helpful tips that are sure to come in handy during the winter months.  When you dig out your driveway, be sure to dig out a spot for your receptacles.  Do not place garbage and recycle receptacles in the street. We realize this cleared area is an enticing location to place garbage containers, but it creates a hazard as they could get hit by vehicles or taken away by snowplows. Most garbage trucks are equipped with a hydraulic extending arm that grasps garbage and recycle bins. It is recommended that garbage and recycle bins be placed at least 3 to 5 feet off the edge of pavement, into your driveway, so they are out of the way of the snowplow or snow being pushed aside while the snowplow is going down the road.  Do not place garbage containers on top of the snow piles. This placement might cause your receptacles to tip over and litter your garbage along the street, and it also makes it difficult for the garbage trucks to set the cart back down. Timing is everything. Putting your trash out the night before collection day can make life easier, but this puts your receptacle at risk of damage during nighttime snowplowing operations. Getting up a bit early in the morning to handle this chore can avoid having containers knocked over by strong winter winds or snowplows.  Retrieve your garbage cans soon after collection. Garbage and recycle receptacles often sit at the roadside on collection day until the evening. Empty bins are vulnerable to winds and snow removal operations and could cause a hazard if knocked into the roadway. Prompt removal of empty bins is recommended. These tips can make garbage collection day safer and easier for snowplow and garbage truck drivers.

3. How are the speed limits set in the Town of Red Hook?

All speed limits in the Town of Red Hook are set by the New York State Department of Transportation. The Town cannot set or change any speed limits on Town Roads without the approval of the State DOT. The State DOT has the town roads listed with a Town wide speed limit of 35 mph, with the following exceptions:

Pitcher lane- 40 mph

Rockefeller Lane- 45 mph

Oriole Mills- 25 mph

The Town of Red Hook Highway Department has brought all illegal speed limit signs (20 mph, 30 mph) into compliance at this time. Residents often request speed limit reductions on Town roads. In order to reduce a speed limit, the Town must follow a required process. When a resident asks in writing for a speed limit reduction the Town board must agree to petition the Dutchess County Department of Public Works and the State of New York Department of Transportation. The County will receive a TE-9 form from the Town and if they have no objections to the request the county will send it to the NYSDOT. The NYSDOT will review the form and decide, based on design and accident history, whether or not to lower the speed limit. In recent years, the volume of requests has increased throughout the State of New York. The State has asked that Towns provide documentation and engineering studies along with the requests. These studies are time consuming and may be costly.

Residents can reach out to local law enforcement agencies to request enforcement on their roads if speeding is a concern. If you wish to ask for a reduction, please put your request in writing to the Town Board, the contact information can be found on the Town website, redhook.org.

To read more about how speed limits are set in our Town, please go to the following link: Procedure for Speed Limit Reductions

4. School Closings

Red Hook Central School District School closings due to weather are based on road conditions in the Town of Red Hook as well as other towns in the school district. While our roads may be cleared, other municipalities may still be plowing, depending upon elevation, location and weather severity.

5. How do I report a dangerous tree?

If a tree is touching wires, or blocking a road, call 911. Other tree issues can be reported to the Highway Department. We will evaluate the situation and determine if it is our responsibility. If it is not, we will let you know who to call.

6. I want to dig or excavate near the road. What should I know?

You will need to contact Dig Safe NY by calling 811 to make sure there are no utilities or wires underground. They will have features marked within a few days so you can proceed safely. Check out Dig Safely NY 

7. Do I need a permit to build a fence or a stone wall along the road?

Before any construction, it is best to contact the Red Hook Town Building Department http://ny-redhook.civicplus.com/150/Building-Zoning for permit information. There are guidelines regarding building in the Town road right of way. The Building Department and the Highway Department will work with you to make sure you get it right the first time.

8. What is a Town road right-of-way?

The Town has a maintenance right-of-way on all roads, which is the area that we use to place snow, maintain underground utilities and mow or clear brush. Call the Highway Department and the Superintendent will tell you where the Town's right-of-way is on your particular road, usually 25' from the center of the road. We advise residents to keep all plantings and items out of the right-of-way to avoid damage and for safety reasons.

9. Does the town pick up brush or leaves?

No, there is no brush or leaf pickup or drop off program in the Town of Red Hook.

10. Where can I get wood chips?

Wood chips are available at the Town Recycling Center only during their operating hours and are free to anyone who wishes to pick them up.

11. Who do I call to report a dead deer?

If you live on a town road, contact the Highway Department. For a Dutchess County Road, call 845-486-2900. For a State Highway , call 845-758-6270. If the deer is not blocking the road, we will pick it up during normal business hours. The Town does not pick up deer on private property.

12. Town Winter Parking Ordinance

Parking is not allowed on Town Roads from November 15th until April 1st from 11:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. Snow plowing is an emergency operation and cars on the side of the roads can suffer damage, as well as impede clearing of the snow. Click here for the Winter Parking Code

13. Which roads are maintained by the Town of Red Hook?

Town roads are any roads that have been dedicated to the Town and accepted by the Town Board. Town of Red Hook roads do not include private, village, county or state roads.

14. Don't see your question?

Contact us at the Highway Department

15. What are the Town of Red Hook's requirements for mailboxes and posts?

The Town of Red Hook Highway Department considers safety a priority. The specifications are meant to further the safety of the travelling public as well as to support the function, maintenance and operation of the Highway system, including snow removal. 

In addition to the rules and regulations of the US Postal Service (designed to allow postal drivers to reach the mailbox), the location and construction of mailboxes must conform to the Town's specifications are intended to enable a snow plow wing to pass safely under the mailbox installation. To read the Town of Red Hook's mailbox specifications, and requirements for posts and mailboxes, please go to the following link: /DocumentCenter/View/621/Mailbox-specifications17April2019 

16. Where can I find specifications for a private road sign?

The Town of Red Hook's Specifications can be found here https://cornell.app.box.com/v/clrp-pb-tsh. You may also refer to the MUTCD Guidance for information on private road signs.

17. What are the basic guidelines for private road signs?

The basic guidelines for private road signs are as follows:

Height of Sign "blade": Minimum height 8"

Height of Lettering: Minimum height 4" Upper case and lowercase letters (length of sign blade will depend upon the length of the name)

Color of Sign: Blue background with white letters

Retroreflective materials, as per Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) as published by the NYS Department of Transportation.

Pole: Ground mounting post must be 3 feet, with 4" above ground, not in concrete

Sign post attached to ground post: Minimum height from ground to bottom of sign is 7 feet

18. They paved my road and my gravel driveway is now lower than the asphalt edge.

After paving with a contractor, the Highway Department will fill in gaps created during paving on gravel driveways.