“Complete Streets Week” surveys Long Island roadways: collaboration between AARP, Vision Long Island and local groupsSens. Craig Johnson, Brian Foley, Frank Padavan, among others co-sponsor Complete Streets Bill in NYS Senate
A Complete Streets bill is currently on the table for consideration in the New York State Senate. Please support this critical bill, Senate Bill 5711, to ensure the streets in YOUR community are designed to be complete and safe for all users! Call (800) 295-5855 to reach your State Senator!
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On Monday, April 19th, several Long Island community organizations, planning and advocacy groups, and government representatives joined together in New Hyde Park and Patchogue to participate in “Complete Streets Week: Making New York Walkable for All Generations.” The events were part of a week-long effort by AARP’s “Create The Good” campaign to survey 300 dangerous intersections throughout the state. The goal is to use the findings to demonstrate to state policymakers the need for state Complete Streets legislation that would create an approach to road design that balances the needs of all people. The two Long Island events were hosted by the collaborated efforts of groups including AARP, Vision Long Island, Tri-State Transportation Campaign and the American Cancer Society..jpg)
Complete Streets is a policy that ensures all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, children, seniors and individuals with disabilities are able to travel safely and conveniently on and across all roads. Designing roadways from a Complete Streets perspective will create safer and healthier environments for all users, as well as promote cycling and walking as viable forms of transportation. One study found that residents are 65% more likely to walk in a neighborhood with sidewalks. Complete Streets are critical to building more livable, Smart Growth-friendly communities..jpg)
Unfortunately, New York State ranks 3rd in the nation for pedestrian fatalities of people age 65 and older. Additionally, 22.5% of total traffic deaths in NYS are pedestrians. The national average was 11.8% in 2007-2008. An AARP report found that 2 in 5 Americans over age 50 say their neighborhood sidewalks are inadequate. Nearly half cannot cross main roads close to their home safely, preventing many from walking, cycling, or taking the bus. On Long Island there were 75 pedestrian deaths from 2006-2008, according to Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s “Most Dangerous Roads for Walking” study. The need to reform our streets is critical..jpg)
In New Hyde Park on Monday, participants gathered at the corner of Jericho Turnpike and New Hyde Park Road and began with a few brief remarks. Speakers included AARP New York’s Will Stoner, Tri-State’s Kate Slevin, and Vision’s Eric Alexander, all who supported the Complete Streets walkability concept. State Senator Craig Johnson attended and announced that he would support the Complete Streets bill currently being considered in the State Senate, S. 5711. A representative from the American Cancer Society spoke about the links between walkability, obesity and cancer. In addition, representatives of the Village of New Hyde Park, including Trustee Don Barbieri announced that they are planning several streetscape improvements that should begin this year, including updating curb cuts, creating some bulb-outs, installing countdown devices, planted medians, additional plantings and an overall effort on slowing traffic down..jpg)
The group then walked over a few blocks to S. 12th Street, where a pedestrian was recently struck and killed by a car. Armed with red safety vests, surveys, and stopwatches, the group looked at all the details of the intersection to determine where there were gaps in safety that could have contributed to the recent pedestrian death (and others that have occurred on Jericho Turnpike over the last few years—5 deaths from 2006-2008 and third most dangerous road in the County, according to the Tri-State report). The group found that the sidewalks and streetscapes were well-designed, but once the pedestrian stepped off the sidewalk there were problems. The crosswalk did not leave enough time for slow or elderly walkers to make it across before the light changed. Many group members suggested planted medians, and were happy to hear that Village officials planned to build them soon.
The day continued in Patchogue, beginning on the corner of W. Main Street and Haven Street. At that intersection, the group noticed that the curb cuts seemed to direct people directly into oncoming traffic. The crosswalk needed to be repainted and repaired and the crosswalk signal was not long enough for someone to get across: it only allowed 15 seconds. The group continued on to a second intersection. The intersection at Railroad Avenue and W. Main Street had no stop sign or even a stop line, so cars do not know where to stop for pedestrians. This causes people to have to go around the cars and walk slower into Main Street where there is more traffic. There was no crosswalk signal--they seemed to only be on Main Street. The final intersection the group surveyed was S. Ocean and Main Street, a very busy intersection where someone was recently killed. The lines need to be repainted, the sidewalks on S. Ocean need to be fixed, the traffic speeds and the left turn signal is only going east.
Additional supporters of the day’s events include Congressman Tim Bishop, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, State Senator Craig Johnson, State Senator Brian Foley, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, and St. Joseph’s College..jpg)
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SMART GROWTH NEWS Newsletter Editor: Michelle Dutchen, Director of Communications We strive to provide continued quality publications such as this each week. If you have any news or events that you would like to add to our newsletter, submit them to info@visionlongisland.org for consideration. If you are interested in becoming a newsletter or news blast sponsor, please call the office at 631-261-0242 for rates and opportunities.
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