After a series of fatal and serious crashes on the Southern State Parkway near Valley Stream, state Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to reopen, fully staff and modernize the former New York State Police Trooper station along the parkway.
In a May 18 letter to Hochul, the two lawmakers said recent crashes near the former station highlighted what they described as a growing public safety concern along one of Long Island’s busiest roadways. The station, located in Valley Stream, closed on May 1, 2018.
“The Station was closed as part of a state operational decision made in 2018,” Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said. “Regardless of the rationale at the time, we believe the recent tragedies on the Southern State Parkway warrant a fresh look at that decision. This station served motorists for nearly four decades, and restoring a permanent State Police presence would be a meaningful step towards improving safety.”
The letter points to recent incidents on the parkway, including a multi-vehicle crash that killed two people and injured several others, as well as another three-vehicle accident involving an overturned pickup truck and a driving while intoxicated arrest.
“Our State Troopers do an outstanding job every day, under challenging conditions and this proposal is about giving them the facilities and resources they need to maintain a stronger presence, improve response times and better protect the thousands of motorists who travel this corridor,” Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said.
The lawmakers said the station’s closure removed what they described as a visible deterrent to speeding, reckless driving and impaired driving. In their letter, they argued that the absence of a permanent State Police facility has also created challenges to rapid emergency response during serious accidents.
Residents and commuters have continued to raise concerns about dangerous driving conditions on the Southern State Parkway since the station closed, according to Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick. She said those concerns include speeding, reckless driving, impaired driving and delays in emergency response, issues she said she has also witnessed firsthand.
“This stretch of the Southern State Parkway needs a sweeping transformation and measures that prioritize driver safety above all else,” Ra said. “The deadly and dangerous incidents can’t continue. Reopening this station, upgrading the facility and ensuring our State Troopers have every tool at their disposal will be critical to prevent serious accidents before they happen and strengthen emergency response capabilities in the area.”
The lawmakers are asking the governor’s administration to immediately reopen and reactivate the station, increase staffing levels with additional troopers and commit to a modernization plan for the facility. According to the letter, that could include either a full renovation of the existing building or the construction of a new state-of-the-art station at the site.
Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said the goal is to ensure the New York State Police have a modern facility capable of meeting current operational demands. She said the state must first evaluate the condition of the former station before determining whether renovation or new construction would be the most practical and cost-effective approach.
The proposal has not yet received a formal position from the New York State Police, according to Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick. She said the letter is intended to initiate discussions between the governor’s administration and State Police leadership regarding staffing and operational needs related to reopening the station.
Beyond reopening the facility, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said the area should also undergo a broader safety review. She said that the process should examine roadway design, signage, lighting, and any additional factors that may contribute to dangerous driving conditions on that stretch of the parkway.
The lawmakers described the proposal as a targeted public safety investment intended to strengthen enforcement efforts, improve roadway safety and help prevent future tragedies. They also said they plan to continue working with state and local officials and law enforcement agencies to advance the proposal.
“Success would mean a safer Southern State Parkway,” Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said. “It would mean a stronger and more visible State Police presence, improved response times when accidents occur and greater peace of mind for the thousands of Long Islanders who travel this roadway every day. Again, Our State Troopers do tremendous work and deserve our utmost appreciation, along with the resources and infrastructure they need to effectively protect the public. Most importantly, success means taking meaningful action that helps prevent future tragedies and saves lives.”
