Residents Want Changes to Smithtown Boulevard, Debate Plans

Nesconset residents and business owners agree that Smithtown Boulevard in Nesconset is dangerous and needs be changed, but they aren't sure what they feel would help most.

Suffolk County officials from the Department of Public Works unveiled the results of a three-year traffic study on Smithtown Boulevard from the Terry Road intersection to Mayfair Road. Suffolk officials also presented three proposed alternative designs to change the roadway to improve its safety.

"Looking at Smithtown Boulevard compared to a similar roadway, there's not a whole lot of accidents but they can tell us a whole lot," said Bill Hillman, chief engineer of Suffolk County's Department of Public Works. "There most significant thing is that we see rear-end [accidents] at Sheppard Lane and Gilbert Avenue."

During the three-year period from January 2007 to December 2009, Suffolk officials counted 32 accidents on Smithtown Boulevard: 10 at Terry Road intersection, 11 at Gilbert Ave/Sheppard Lane, eight at Sheppard Lane and three at Mayfair Road intersection.

"I've learned on Mayfair Road since 1971. I've seen drives jump that intersection [Mayfair] using the passing or turning lane," said Jan Williams.

To improve safety, Hillman said the first alternative is to install a raised, 4-foot wide median west of Gilbert Avenue and east of Gilbert Avenue to prohibit left turns out of the 7-Eleven.

"The median really tries to slow people down. The goal is to bring the speed of traffic down. It's a traffic calming measure, when you tighten the roadway up people generally try to slow down," he said.

The second proposal calls to create two-way left turn lanes on Smithtown Boulevard to enter Gilbert Avenue, and installing a 8-foot wide raised median west of Gilbert Avenue. The 7-Eleven owner would be approached about making his driveway a right-turn in/right-turn out only.

"This is really the best way to solve the rear-end accident problem, in my opinion," Hillman said.

The third option aimed at slowing down traffic and increasing safety on Smithtown Boulevard is to install a roundabout, or traffic circle, at the Terry Road intersection.

"It's pretty on paper. It will accomplish slowing people down," Hillman said. "However, the geometrics are very tight and I have a lot of concerns a bout how it would operate."

The roundabout would be one-lane while and convert Gilbert Avenue to a one-way southbound road. Many residents were concerned this could increase traffic on Gilbert Avenue or cut-through traffic on Sycamore Places. It is also the most costly proposed plan, as it would come with a nearly $1 million bill, according to Hellman.

"I live on Sheppard Lane. If you do that circle and creat the one-way, those people on Sycamore Avenue already get cut through from Smithtown Boulevard. It's going to get worse," said a woman, who declined to be identified.

Kennedy said all feedback given at the forum will be considered when making a final decision. Funding must also be secured before moving forward, so residents are unlikely to see construction start until 2013.

Ireen Westrack, principal of Branch Brook Elementary School, said her concern is making sure school buses and local children are taken into consideration with these proposed changes.

"Did you reach out to the school district at all to talk about bus traffic or car traffic? My school is within a quarter-mile of the intersection," Westrack said. "My concern is the safety of our school district.... There are children who after school come up and go to the playground. There is constant traffic."

Other residents aired grievances about police enforcement of existing laws, believing more police patrols of the area could help bring traffic under control.

"You can do all the studies you want, but what matters is police enforcement," said Smithtown resident Fil Antonucci. "Driving home the last few nights, I've never see a police car. I've seen people whizzing by Smithtown boulevard every night and Route 111."

Suffolk County police said they hae issued 167 summonses on Smithtown Boulevard in Nesconset from January 2010 to February 2012 according to a COPE officer at the hearing. The officer said often police will use unmarked units, which drivers are less likely to notice.

Suffolk County police have an application on their department website that allows residents to report aggressive driving, if they see other residents cutting through parking lots or repeatedly speeding on Smithtown Boulevard. Residents will need to log their own client ID number, above the photo of your New York State driver's license, a rough time, date, location and brief description of what was seen. If a license plate number or driver is identified, a letter will be sent to their mailing address explaining they were observed driving in an aggress manner as a warning.