William J. Kemble reports in the Daily Freeman that New York Department of Transportation officials still don't think Route 9W in the Town of Ulster needs a lower speed limit. State assistant engineer Mark Morano wrote to the town that, “Our study included a formal review and evaluation of the crash history for the last three years.... The crash analysis indicated that they are random in nature and can be generally attributed to driver error or misjudgment. Additionally, there is no evidence that any of these crashes are associated with motorists that are complying with the existing speed limits within this section of U.S. 9W.” Town Board members want the speed limit reduced along the 2.7-mile stretch of Route 9W from the QuickChek to the municipal line with Saugerties. Town officials say that between Jan. 1, 2021, and March 17, 2022, there were 42 accidents, including one death, along that section of Route 9W. Six years ago the state DOT refused a similar request to lower the speed limit on the road. Supervisor James Quigley said, “We are going to continue to ask as long as constituents come forward and make an issue of it in the Town Board meetings.” Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.