A push for pedestrian safety in Rockville Centre

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Four years after Vision Long Island completed a “walkability audit” in Rockville Centre that sought to improve pedestrian and motorist safety, there is an effort to persuade Gov. Kathy Hochul to fund such projects.

Vision Long Island’s mission is to promote livable, economically sustainable, and environmentally responsible growth across Long Island. Its executive director, Eric Alexander, hosted a community forum on March 25 at Molloy College’s Suffolk Center in Farmingdale. An audience of more than 100 elected officials and community members shared ideas about how to make several Nassau County communities, including Rockville Centre, safer. 

Alexander said that Hochul included a five-year transportation capital plan in her 2022-23 spending plan, and that he believes that billions of dollars could be allocated to improve safety.

“We’re feeling that for the first time in a long time, we can dust off some of these plans from a couple of years ago and go back to them,” Alexander explained, “while recognizing that pedestrian issues are similar to back then, so let’s get these proposals.”

In 2018, the village was chosen as a study area for a “walking audit,” along with Lynbrook, Freeport and Hicksville. The audits were based on data collected by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign and mapped locations of car crashes involving walkers and bike riders. It sought to identify “hot spots” that needed improvements to make them safer. The audit was a partnership between Vision Long Island and the AARP, which had representatives walk through each community to study roads and areas that have recorded a high number of crashes.

The probe into Rockville Centre took place on June 19, 2018, at 1 p.m. It began at the village’s train station and headed south along Park Avenue toward Sunrise Highway. The study found needs for improvements in various areas, and called for adding medians to several roads, countdown timers at some intersections, canopies for bus stops and crosswalks. 

The study found that the crossing streets and intersections were fair for the average person, but poor for those who have to cross in wheelchairs or with strollers, the sidewalks had some disrepair and issues with cutouts, driver behavior was fair, safety was poor and comfort and appeal were fair. 

Alexander said he was not certain about how long it might take to get the projects underway or when a decision would be made. He noted, however, that there is about $32 billion available through funds set aside in the transportation budget over the years for fixes.

Alexander said Sunrise Highway was a major focus on many of Vision Long Island’s past studies since it travels through several villages and towns, and the growing popularity of people walking and biking has led to a greater need for safety.

Village spokeswoman Julie Grilli said that the study listed Park Avenue as needing enhancements, but the village remedied it a few years ago, and many of the projects listed in the study were county and state roads.

“The village administration has been aggressive in going after grants and gifts and things of that nature,” she said. “The mayor [Francis Murray] has secured over $43 million on behalf of the village and he will continue to do so, and if it benefits the village, he absolutely will be going after it.”

She added that the $43 million was used toward road improvements, safety equipment for police and fire department personnel and for recreation projects, such as improving ball fields and playgrounds over the past decade.

Alexander said a recent study showed that the Town of Hempstead had 6,000 accidents involving pedestrians last year. 

“There’s a need in the area,” he said, “and we can do better.”