Community Corner

Residents Divided Over Smithtown Main Street Changes

Some complain new road markings generate too much traffic on Main Street, others say they feel safe for the first time in years.

 

Smithtown area residents divided over whether the remarking of Smithtown's Main Street is helping or only further worsening local traffic and safety issues. 

A handful of residents attending Town of Smithtown's Town Board meeting Thursday night offered their first hand opinions on the to include left turning lanes heading eastbound, while reducing westbound traffic to one lane. 

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"I'm almost a lifelong resident of Smithtown. After the changes on Main Street, for the first time in my entire life, I feel comfortable driving through town with the turning lanes," said Smithtown resident Sonya Lorraine. 

Lorraine said she's always been anxious when driving on Smithtown main street that she might be hit from behind while making a left-hand turn or someone from the oncoming traffic lanes would sideswipe her. 

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However, other residents are grumbling about the impact the lane changes have had on local traffic. 

"What used to take me two minutes to get from one end of Main Street to the train trestle now takes me 10 minutes," said Fil Antonucci of Smithown. "Just yesterday, during my drive home, I saw two people driving through the turning lanes." 

Another woman said the merging of two eastbound lanes into one lane at the intersection of Jericho Turnpike and Route 111 is creating a lot of traffic problems, particularly accidents. 

Supervisor Patrick Vecchio said Mitchel Crowley, the director of Traffic safety, had sent several emails to the state makig suggestions for changes to the Route 111 intersection as the Jericho Turnpike and Route 111 intersection is maintained by the state. Unfortunately, the state has replied that they want to continue to monitor the intersection for now with no plans for immediate action, according to Vecchio. 

Patch readers have responded strongly following reports of the changes that are happening on Main Street. 

"I disagree with the main street change. Making westbound one lane while east bound is still two lanes makes no sense. Its like a half assed job of trying to make main street safer. There should be two lanes both west bound and east bound and more cross walks put in like every other town with hazard signs," said Patch commenter

While others remain strongly in support of the changes that have been made. 

"I drove through Smithtown today and it was better than it has every been. This change couldn't be better," wrote  


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