Looking to improve Jerusalem Avenue

Uniondale’s Jerusalem Avenue, which sees over 20,000 vehicles a day and is known for serious accidents, may be getting a much-needed makeover.

The Greater Uniondale Area Action Coalition, County Legislator Siela Bynoe, AARP and Vision Long Island — a nonprofit that advocates for more livable, economically sustainable, and environmentally responsible growth on Long Island — took part in a “walkability” audit on Jerusalem and Uniondale Avenues last Friday

“When I learned that Vision Long Island was going to come to Uniondale and walk on Uniondale Avenue,” Bynoe said, “I asked them to reconsider and include Jerusalem Avenue, because I felt like Jerusalem presented more immediate issues.”

The audits, organized by AARP and Vision Long Island, are methodical assessments of how “friendly” an area is for pedestrians. Participants describe and measure, among other factors, the conditions and the width of sidewalks, to ensure that they are negotiable by more than one person side by side, and that pedestrians with disabilities can use them comfortably and safely as well.

“What I’ve seen on Jerusalem Avenue — I’m being honest with you, it is scary,” said Bynoe, “Jerusalem Avenue makes me nervous.”

Bynoe has been campaigning for re-election in the area for months, though she is currently representing only the northern part of Uniondale. If re-elected to Legislative District 2, the newly drawn district lines would go into effect, making all Uniondale residents her constituents.

The audits also check on whether crosswalks are clearly labeled, and whether red lights give pedestrians enough time to cross. According to some of those who took part, they did not.

“The measured time it takes to cross is really important,” Jeannine Maynard, president of the Greater Uniondale Area Action Coalition, explained. “About a third of our community of seniors. I kept getting stopped halfway across the main road or two-thirds across the way. That is just not enough time.”

The main goal for Vision Long Island and AARP was to gather enough information for a detailed report, including their recommendations for improvements that would make Jerusalem and Uniondale avenues safer and more convenient for pedestrians. Other recommendations may include the possible addition of bike lanes as well as expanding the number of traffic lanes on the roads.

“People see us and think we’re looking to implement red-light cameras,” said Vision LI’s placemaking director, Elissa Kyle, who led the audit. “But the truth is, we have nothing to do with red-light cameras, and everything to do with actually making the streets and sidewalks safer.”

This was AARP and Vision LI’s 20th joint audit. As a result of audits they conducted in the Village of Hempstead, Bynoe has secured $41 million for improvements to the village’s streets and sidewalks.

Nassau County’s 2024 capital plan includes $8 million for improvements to Jerusalem Avenue, and $3 million for Uniondale Avenue, according to Bynoe. The audit, she explained, was necessary, because it will help determine how that that money can best be spent, and where improvements are needed most.

Although the funding has not yet been approved by the County Legislature, Bynoe said it was important for her to take part last weekend, to see firsthand what the auditors were reporting.

“I don’t currently represent this community,” Bynoe said, “but I’m running on lines that would put me in representation of this community, so it is important I show up for them.”