The boardroom at the May 21 village board of trustees meeting was snarled with angry Garden City residents determined to voice their displeasure over a plan Nassau County has announced to alter traffic flow a nearby intersection. It’s a plan, many locals said that is likely to cause more problems than it will cure.
Board trustee Richard V. Silver, a member of the Village of Garden City’s Traffic Commission, noted that Nassau County recently made public their proposed plans to alter the intersection after an extensive traffic study at a recent standing room-only public meeting attended by many Garden City residents.
“On Thursday, May 14, Nassau County traffic engineers detailed conceptual plans intended to ease traffic congestion and improve safety at the intersection of Stewart Avenue and Clinton Road during a traffic commission meeting,” he said. ‘The purpose of the meeting was to allow the village to understand the county’s plan, and for the county to receive feedback from Garden City residents. The meeting adjourned with all parties agreeing that further dialogue would be constructive to identify what, if any, changes for the intersection might be appropriate to have.”
The plans revealed by Nassau County to alter Stewart Avenue and Clinton Road include adding a left-turn signal and widening the road itself in order to add a right-turn lane; in addition, large-scale changes would be made to the agriculture in the area to increase visibility, according to Silver.
Garden City residents at the board meeting all seemed well-versed regarding the issues plaguing Stewart Avenue and Clinton Road, with many pointing out that traffic is often backed up and blocking the intersection, especially during rush hour or when a red light hits. However, the changes proposed by traffic engineers are likely to make a bad situation worse, with many residents during the public comments portion of the meeting complaining that widening the road would invite additional traffic to an already congested area and create hazards for pedestrians attempting to cross the street, among other issues.
Mayor Nicholas Episcopia said that he was personally against the plan in its current form and stated that he was more than open to hearing the viewpoints of his constituents in regards to this potential major undertaking in their community before making any final decisions.
“The Eastern Property Owners, along with the traffic commission, suggested some changes to the intersection of Stewart and Clinton, and the county responded with this rather grandiose plan,” he said. “It’s extremely extensive and involves 50 or 60 trees coming down and Clinton will be extended 13 feet by the school. I am not in favor of this, and if it comes time to vote for it I would vote no.”
Silver pointed out that the next step in the process is sending emails out to the local school district, civic groups and legislators for their feedback, as well as thanking the many residents who have attended traffic commission meetings and village board meetings to express their opinions, criticism, and suggestions and encouraged them to continue to do so.
The village said that they would keep residents informed of any developments that occur with the intersection of Stewart Avenue and Clinton Road. The next Garden City Board of Trustees meeting will be on Thursday, June 4.
