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Editorial - What Are They Thinking? Do A Traffic Study For Rtes. 347/111 Intersection
Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 7:40AM If there is a corner in Smithtown that can be a poster child for dangerous and ugly it is the intersection of Rte. 347 and Rte.111. This area was once deemed one of the most dangerous intersections in Suffolk County. The state has invested heavily in rebuilding the intersection making many physical alterations over the years. The most recent construction, a divider between east and west bound traffic, has tied up traffic and cost millions in construction dollars. The construction is part of the state’s plan to improve traffic flow safely and expeditiously.
The Smithtown Town Board is moving in a direction that may negate some of the state’s work. At the June 18th Town Board’s work session there was a discussion about a proposed zone change at the Rte. 347 Rte.111 intersection that would permit a sixteen pump gas station and convenience store at this intersection. The proposal calls for a zone change on a lot currently zoned as residential.
At the work session Frank DeRubeis, planning director for Smithtown placed a hot potato in the hands of the Board members. The proposal does not meet accepted transportation practices and may present a danger to the public, he warned. According to DeRubeis, the information provided by Bolla LI, the company proposing the redevelopment of the property, is almost irrelevant. Increased traffic does not seem to be the issue but it does seem to be the issue most discussed in the traffic study presented by Bolla. The main concern for the planning department is the disruption of the traffic flow and the havoc it can create at the intersection. The proposed plan would permit the egress of traffic onto a road with a high volume of traffic and high speeds without an acceleration lane. This is a topic addressed in the Institute of Traffic Engineers manual (ITE) which advises against creating this type of dangerous condition.
Safety is non-negotiable. The Town Board has been made aware of the very serious consequences a hasty decision can lead to. An unbiased traffic study is called for sooner rather than later. Voting for the zone change and hoping the state does something about it is not good governance, it is a dereliction of duty. Town Supervisor, Patrick Vecchio, has indicated a willingness to delay the vote pending a traffic study. He also acknowledged that there has not been any response from the public. “Who knew?” was the response of neighbors in the area. “An article appeared in Newsday about the proposal and now we are hearing it is almost a done deal.”
Councilman Creighton, a candidate for Town Supervisor, said he does not believe there is a need for a new traffic study. Why? When serious safety concerns are raised by the planning department does it not warrant a second or third look at the project. The idea that the state will be the “decider” is not backed up by any fact. Towns approve and control zoning. The goal of redeveloping a blighted site is a good one but the key word when it comes to traffic is “safety”.
Supervisor Vecchio, pull the item from the agenda and have an unbiased traffic study done as quickly as possible.
Pat
Reader Comments (6)
I am extremely upset about the proposal of a new gas station on the corner of Rtes 111 & 347. The gas station's location will not provide the egress lane when cars are accelerating onto Rte 347 from the gas station, a concept that caused months and months of construction in the eastward direction!
Jane Mayer
Talk about reactionary government! The State probably spent a million to make this intersection, once declared the most dangerous intersection in Suffolk County - highest fatality rate despite the presence of the Hospital ER on the corner, safer with turn lanes and barriers. Now the Town Board wants to put another gas station with entrances and exits right on the corner. Not to mention, since there is already a large gas station there, no one is going to run out of gas on that corner. Lets not return to the "good old days"! Let the Smithtown Board do the right thing for the people and save a few lives.
Thomas Biancaniello, MD
Reactionary Government is an understatement! I disagree with the proposal to put another "super sized" filling station at that location. One should ponder the question why would we make one of the most dangerous intersections even more dangerous? Clearly, an in depth traffic study needs to be conducted ASAP and the results of the study should be made public so that an educated decision can be made in terms of the re-zoning of that location. Furthermore, I was a passenger in a vehicle at this location and we were nearly "creamed" by a truck that was clearly traveling well over the speed limit. I can only imagine what can happen if a vehicle is exiting the proposed gas station and entering the roadway under the same circumstances. If we make the right decision and save just one life, we made the best decision. Safety and not revenue should be the main concern here!
What are they thinking? The problem is that they aren't! Smithtown already has way too may traffic accidents and fatalities.
This has always been a mess. The problem is there no clear thinking. Never has been. Route 454 all the way to route 347 needs help too. The traffic lights are not adjusted correctly New Highway and Old Willets Path have many accidents too. People living on the north and south of these roads can not leave their homes early in the morning or late in the afternnoon. It is a superhighway . Route 111 needs open space for traveling . A gas station on that corner is totally wrong. That area does not need a gas station it needs a good right turning lane. The planning of these areas are totally wrong. Of course no one has ever asked the peop;e who live here how to fix it . If they did maybe some problems could be corrected. WE THE PEOPLE OF HAUPPAUGE SMITHTOWN WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED WE ARE NOT JUST A DRIVE THROUGH.
This editorial is right on the money.
There are signs of a new dangerous trend by some board members - let's just do something, anything, no matter what the consequences or harm it may cause.
It is irresponsible not to carefully consider and study the effects of such serious actions. That includes this and other matters pending in the town.