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Home My WebLink About09/15/2025 TOWN OF SOUTHOLD TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Improved Safety, Environmental Improvements, Quality of Life, Efficient Delivery Coordination Education Minutes Draft 09/15/2025 Meeting Location: Town Hall, 53095 Main Rd, Southold,NY 11971 Supervisor's Conference Room Meeting Date/Time: September 15,2025 4:15 PM Type of Meeting: ❑X Regular Meeting ❑Special Meeting ❑ Emergency Meeting ATTENDANCE: P A P A Q ❑ Margaret Newman,Chairperson Q ❑ Eric McClure 0 ❑ Councilwoman Anne H.Smith,Town Board Liason FV-1 ❑ Daniel J.Goodwin,Superintendent of Highways ❑ Mary Bess Phillips,Greenport Village Liaison Q Steven Grattan,Chief of Police 0 ❑ John Carter Q Q Brian Cummings,Southold Town Planning Department 0 ❑ Charles Gueli ❑ Q Heather Lanza,Planning Department Representative Q ❑ James Kaliu FV-1 ❑ Tabitha A.Manwaring,Secretary w ❑ Christopher Shashkin FV-1 ❑ Scott Latham,Police Captain CALL TO ORDER APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES Minutes from the July 21,2025, meeting were: 0 Approved as submitted ❑ Approved with corrections (listed below) Motion by: Christopher Sashkin Seconded by: James Kalin Vote: 11-0 approved; Daniel Goodwin was absent at the time of the vote. [HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT DANIEL GOODWINARRIVES] 1 TOWN OF SOUTHOLD ° � Orl "�� TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Improved Safety, Environmental Improvements, Quality of Life, Efficient Delivery, Coordination,Education MEMORANDUM ON NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (NYS DOT Anne Smith,Mary Bess Phillips, and Daniel Goodwin drafted a memorandum and presented it to the Town Board(Southold). The memo discusses two major ongoing concerns: public safety and coastal resilience. Public safety concerns: • Crosswalk visibility • Speed limit issues on Route 25 • Lack of maintenance by NYSDOT • Failure of systems already in place. • Miscellaneous items related to NYSDOT and within their purview. Coastal Resiliency: • Rising tidal levels • Raising the elevation of the road • Ongoing flooding The transportation commission briefly discussed: • Merchant concerns about safety and crosswalks in the Town of Southold and the Village of Greenport. • The crosswalk at the corner of Front Street and Main Street(Greenport) needs to be set back farther from the intersection. • Sidewalks need to be modified for ADA compliance. • Truck traffic, tractor-trailers, and loading zones. There is potential in Greenport for off-site unloading areas in the Adams Street parking lot,with designated loading and unloading times. • Cross Sound Ferry • North Ferry: not providing enough employees to properly staff their new staging area and get the traffic completely off of Wiggins Street. • Potential to involve the New York State Climate Action Council (CAC) or other NYS Environmental agencies as a source of funding for coastal resiliency to replace federal funding that has been cut for environmental concerns. ACTION ITEMS: ❑ Get a comprehensive list of concerns/suggestions from the Village of Greenport Board of Trustees to present to the Southold Town/other stakeholders (Mary Bess Phillips). 2 TOWN OF SOUTHOLD ° � Orl "�� TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Improved Safety, Environmental Improvements, Quality of Life, Efficient Delivery, Coordination,Education ❑ Commission to create an overall comprehensive list of concerns/suggestions to be shared with the Town Board/NYSDOT/other stakeholders. Include suggested solutions/what the commission is asking for(funding/studies/maintenance). ❑ Send map with highlighted speed limit concerns/crosswalks to Transportation Commission for inclusion in Draft Letter(Brian Cummings). ❑ Draft letter to Assemblyman Schiavone and Senator Columbo that includes concrete suggestions, including an attachment from Brian Cummings (Responsible Party?). INFRASTRUCTURE AND RISING SEA LEVELS MEETING WITH TOWN OFFICIALS 08/25/2025 Town Supervisor Albert J. Krupski Jr. held a meeting. In attendance from this commission were Anne Smith,Margaret Newman, and Mary Bess Phillips. Also in attendance were NYS Assemblywoman Giglio,NYS Assemblyman Schiavone, and a representative from Senator Palumbo. Public safety, coastal resiliency, and upcoming Suffolk County roadwork on County Route 48 were discussed. As a follow-up to the meeting,Assemblyman Schiavone met with Daniel Goodwin, Highway Superintendent, at his office and took a tour of the area to lend context to Assemblyman Schiavone for further discussion with NYS DOT. They had a broader discussion regarding the need for short-term solutions and long-term solutions to address the commission's/Town of Southold's concerns. ACTION ITEMS: ❑ Receive plan of action(from DOT/County?) discussed at meeting with Town Supervisor. Share with the rest of the commission(Mary Bess Phillips). 3 TOWN OF SOUTHOLD ° � Orl "�� TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Improved Safety, Environmental Improvements, Quality of Life, Efficient Delivery, Coordination,Education WINTERFEST: ROAD CLOSURE OF NYS ROUTE 25 Attending from the Economic Development Committee(EDC): Jack E. Malley, Chairperson Jennifer Wheeler Del Vaglio Brian Q. Smith Discussion: 5"'Annual Winterfest is scheduled for February 21st, 2026. The event is held from 9 AM to 4 PM. The road is closed from 10 AM to 3 PM. Estimated engagement from 80 different businesses from Southold Town (vendor space not sold to outside vendors per EDC, but space was sold to a South Fork food truck last year) and approximately 2,500 participants (up from 2025 attendance of approximately 2,000). This year,it will coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Here to discuss concerns over the road closure (as was requested by Town Supervisor Albert Krupski Jr.). Per Jack Malley/EDC, a survey of 23 participants from last year on Main Road between Young's and Horton's. 96% Approve of Winterfest, and 80% were in favor of the road closure. EDC believes the Winterfest is a great event for this town. The objective is to bring tourism to the town in the middle of winter and generate business. Per EDC, it has been very successful, and the feedback from the involved businesses has been positive. Concerns from Transportation Commission/Town Board: • The amount of time the road is closed. • Closure of the Main Road/major throughway. • The Fire Department has to do a detour. • Pharmacy concern from prior year: seniors crossing the street/ accessing the pharmacy for their medical needs. • Visibility issue caused in the prior year by a pick-up truck parked on Young's Ave. • Parking accessibility for the event. • The 25 reroute currently comes out at Young's Avenue, and Winterfest has a good deal of entertainment/vendors set up on Silversmith. This still causes a precarious situation for pedestrians. • How is the word distributed about the closure? • Unmanned crosswalk: pedestrians must cross using existing signals. 4 TOWN OF SOUTHOLD ° � Orl "�� TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Improved Safety, Environmental Improvements, Quality of Life, Efficient Delivery, Coordination,Education • Note that if you park in the back of the annex area, and then walk along Traveler's, and come through Feather Hill to the Winterfest, there are no sidewalks,parking is on both sides, and then two lanes of traffic that are being detoured. Recommendation that someone from EDC be along that route to calm pedestrian traffic. • As it is a Volunteer Fire Department,in case of an emergency, the volunteers need to get to the fire department. The detour causes an issue because of where the firehouse is located in the district; the volunteer force is also detoured with the other traffic (There is a substation they can respond from on Baywater Avenue. Imagine it would be similar to responding during the summertime). Thoughts from the Police Department: • Suggested closure of Young's at Travelers and Main Road. Use of the entire town property where the annex is, Silversmith Corner, and keep the road open for the merchants on State Route 25. • Staffing will be the same for the police department in either configuration: two cops and a sergeant. • This event is not on the scale of the Maritime Festival; does it necessitate the road closure? • State Route 25 is a truck route,where that detour is going, and then where you're spilling them out downstream, heading east. • Concern about emergency access and traverses as the closure is so close to the Fire Department. Per EDC,justification of road closure: • If the road isn't closed,you know, it would really reshape the whole event. It would have to be moved. • Nostalgia, "Je ne sail quoi,""Norman Rockwell-esque" experience of Winterfest. • Safety of participants/pedestrians and their expectation of the road closure through precedent. • Utilize the road for entertainment purposes. • Allows the merchants to spill outside of their brick and mortar onto the sidewalks/ promote more sales. • Addressed pharmacy concerns by designating two parking spaces blocked off for anyone going to the pharmacy. Jack Malley stated he personally called doctors' offices and hospitals around the area and advised them that the road would be closed on that day, and it would be closed for X hours, to tell their customers. • Parking: Parking along Traveler St, in the Town Hall, and in the annex parking lot. The fire department also offered space last year. • Pick-up truck visibility issue: Will not happen again, as we will keep that spot open. • Closure notices: Facebook page with I,000 followers, detour signs posted the week prior. • EDC submits an emergency safety plan that goes to the police department and NYS. 5 TOWN OF SOUTHOLD ° � Orl "�� TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Improved Safety, Environmental Improvements, Quality of Life, Efficient Delivery, Coordination,Education ACTION ITEMS: ❑ Monitor any issues encountered this year. ❑Asked for a map of where the vendors would be laid out(EDC did not have it with them). Request that a map be provided to the Commission for review. MOTION TO SUPPORT THE FULL CLOSURE FOR WINTERFEST: Caveats: Monitoring any issues to inform the commission's decision for the following year to support the closure for next year. The EDC will ensure the pharmacy has customer access (by reserving the aforementioned two parking spaces) and will have volunteers ensure the safety of pedestrians crossing Youngs Avenue to Silversmith corner. Motion by: Eric McClure Seconded by: Charles Gueli Vote: 12-0 approved UPDATE ON REQUESTS/RESPONSE PROCESS(AGENDA ITEM SKIPPED STOP SIGN: BAYVIEW AND BAYWATER REQUEST (AGENDA ITEM SKIPPED REVIEW OF TURNS TO CHAPEL LANE (AGENDA ITEM MOVED UP) The topic was brought to the commission after a conversation between Anne Smith and Margaret Newman concerning a major accident that occurred on Chapel Lane (Greenport) some weeks ago. Also,briefly mentioned is Moore's Lane(Greenport). Discussion: • It is a heavily traveled road. • No lane of refuge/acceleration lane where there used to be one. • Traffic back-ups in both directions. • No shoulder/narrow road. • Potential for reconfiguration through development. There is a discussion about using a property on Chapel Lane as a housing development. It's in the beginning stages - brought up at the zoning meeting(in Greenport). 6 TOWN OF SOUTHOLD ° � Orl "�� TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Improved Safety, Environmental Improvements, Quality of Life, Efficient Delivery, Coordination,Education ACTION ITEMS: ❑ Monitor possible development. Re-engage discussion, if needed. UPDATE ON PECONIC BAY BOULEVARD (AGENDA ITEM MOVED UP) There was a complaint that every car on the road was speeding. The police department had an initiative over several days/a couple of weekends. In total, there were 19 stops. Traffic is approximately 1200 to 1500 cars daily. For the 85-wheeler traffic, approximately 85%were driving five miles per hour over the speed limit. The police force will continue to patrol the area in coordination with Riverhead. A discussion point was raised about infractions for overweight vehicles,but the police force is not equipped to handle those infractions. A motor carrier would have to come out of the county,which could cause other issues. ACTION ITEMS: ❑ Anne Smith will keep in communication with Carrie Friend, spokesperson for residents in the area. ❑ Remove from future agendas. [POLICE CAPTAIN SCOTT LATHAMLEAVES FOR THE ANTI-BIAS TASK FORCE] TRAFFIC ISSUE: CORNER OF JACKSON STREET AND IST STREET BY THE TOWN BEACH,NEW SUFFOLK(NOT ON AGENDA Speaker: Joseph Paloshock, Resident Compliant/Issue: • Corner of Jackson Street& I"Street,New Suffolk—Automobiles speeding and running through the stop sign, combined with the increased electric bicycles/ scooters/one-wheeler traffic/golf carts, along with unprotected pedestrians, causing unsafe conditions. • Peconic Bay Sailing Association's Wednesday night sailboat races cause issues with traffic at the intersection of Main Street and First Street and parking congestion in the 7 TOWN OF SOUTHOLD ° � Orl "�� TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Improved Safety, Environmental Improvements, Quality of Life, Efficient Delivery, Coordination,Education trailer lot/street parking. People watching the races often leave garbage in the area/ do not dispose of it in the designated garbage pails. • A traffic study was carried out by the town years ago about the parking limits, times, and use of resident parking permits. Requests: • More police enforcement at the location of the stop sign and control of pedestrian and parking traffic during the Wednesday night races. • Review of the traffic study and implementation of solutions highlighted in the study. Discussion by Commission: New Suffolk's existing parking plan is already very complicated. On Jackson Street from 1 st Street to 4th Street,there is no parking on both sides of the road, there is no parking on both sides of the road on 2nd Street and parking is only by permit on 3rd Street, 4th Street, and 5th Street. Finally, from 2nd St to Main St,no parking is allowed between June and August(which was originally requested by residents,but the properties have since changed hands, and new owners take exception to these parking rules). Secondly, the traffic complications in the area are worsened by other conditions, such as the location of the existing Post Office with 15-minute parking between 6 AM and 6 PM; only one existing stop sign heading towards the beach due to a lack of space to install any other stop signs (partially caused by boat trailer parking), and the area being densely populated, especially during peak Summer tourism. Further, the baseball field in the area is owned by the New Suffolk School District and is designated overflow trailer parking for the boat ramp. However,it is no longer a public school being run out of the location. The school is being rented to Just Kids, which is a private business; the business is directing all its employees to park in that area. They have been placing placards with number spaces for about a week and a half, two weeks. 8 TOWN OF SOUTHOLD ° � Orl "�� TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Improved Safety, Environmental Improvements, Quality of Life, Efficient Delivery, Coordination,Education Finally, there are numerous stakeholders in the area: Town of Southold, Suffolk Park District, NYS has an easement on a L-shaped piece of property, DPW maintains by the guardrail, Robbin's Island has a lot, and private property. ACTION ITEMS: ❑ Locate and review the study performed on the area by the Town of Southold. ❑ Investigate site plan/permits for Just Kids. ❑ Identify governing bodies for the area. E.g., Town of Southold, Suffolk Park District, NYS, DPW,private property, etc. ❑ Commission to come up with recommendations for the Town Board regarding the issue (Resident was sent to the commission by the Supervisor). REVIEW OF SPEED LIMITS Anne Smith sent an email to Suffolk County and spoke with Daniel Goodwin regarding this issue. Heading East on Rt. 48 just before the Halyard/Soundview,the speed limit is reduced to 40. When driving West,there is a posted speed limit sign that says 50, and no signage reduces it to 40. When driving East,it is posted as 40. There was a study performed, and the Transportation Commission supported the conclusion, to reduce speed from Boisseau Avenue to Main Street. The county was supposed to change the signage. ACTION ITEMS: ❑ Anne Smith to speak with Naomi about changing the sign and confirm we accepted their other recommendations (some discussion about them having been challenged). REQUEST: NORTH FERRY SIGNAGE,GREENPORT 9 TOWN OF SOUTHOLD ° � Orl "�� TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Improved Safety, Environmental Improvements, Quality of Life, Efficient Delivery, Coordination,Education Brought before the Commission by Mary Bess Phillips. Currently, there is a sign directing ferry traffic down 6d' Street, and a sign at the stoplight states that there is no entrance to the ferry from 3rd Street anymore. The current issue is a lack of signage on Wiggins Street directing ferry traffic to the staging area. Truck traffic goes down Moore's Lane and gets cut across at 9d'to avoid the school; there may need to be a sign there. There is a communication problem between Greenport Village and the North Ferry Company. In practice, the North Ferry company is understaffed, so they have been closing off one lane with cones, and then one lane becomes filled out on Wiggins Street. They don't use all the other lanes because they claim they don't have enough staff. This will be going before the work session on Thursday, September 25d'. Further discussion included a lack of police enforcement of the ferry line that backs up onto Southold Town roads (on Wiggins Street from 6d' Street to 9th Street). ACTION ITEMS: ❑ Mary Bess Phillips will be updating the Transportation Commission. CRITERIA FOR CO-NAMING A STREET The Transportation Commission was tasked with reviewing and advising the Town Board whether to adopt a policy, such as the policy Riverhead Town adopted to co-name a street as a way to honor someone(not the same as a dedication). It usually only affects the signage on one corner(so longer roads would not have to have the co-named sign along the entirety of the road). Some discussion as to how to allow co-naming. Should there be considerations of criteria such as who the person was, the surrounding community,how long they have been 10 TOWN OF SOUTHOLD ° � Orl "�� TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Improved Safety, Environmental Improvements, Quality of Life, Efficient Delivery, Coordination,Education deceased, and what the relationship is with the road? On major intersections with a State or County Road, the signage would have to be placed back from the intersection. ACTION ITEMS: ❑ Discuss and report back to the Town Board. COMMITTEE HANDBOOK The handbook has been adopted. See the link below. I�tll7s://southoldtownny c y/L oc mcrrvt(" rrvtcr/V cw/1._1()f>2/T'c�wrry of"Southold Committee- I-landbook REVIEW THE GOALS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. The Planning Department is currently compiling edits from analysis and comments received. The Dept will be working with the town board over the next few months on putting out a new draft. The Zoning Committee put out a detailed report and continues to meet with subgroups with expertise that advise the Planning Department. ACTION ITEMS: ❑ Brian to continue to update the Commission on progress and bring forward any issues that may need input from the Commission. WORKING GROUP(MARY BESS/J OHN/CHARLIE) ACTION ITEMS: ❑Review and organize existing transportation studies to observe patterns, themes, and past discrepancies so that when a meeting is set with the DOT,we have evidence of past community concerns that have been brought forward. NEW TIME AND DATES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS 10/27, 11/24, 12/15.New time: 4:15 PM—5:45 PM 11 TOWN OF SOUTHOLD ° � Orl "�� TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Improved Safety, Environmental Improvements, Quality of Life, Efficient Delivery, Coordination,Education NEW BUSINESS Speed Limit Signs (John Carter) - Flashing speed limit signs that can collect data. Discussion of whose budget lines this would have to be funded through. ACTION ITEMS: ❑ John to present any updated information at next meeting. Flashing Speed Limit School Lights (James Kalin) -Labor Day weekend, the school lights are flashing 24/7. Concern is that people ignore them if they see them flashing all the time. Part of the problem,per Daniel Goodwin,is that there are too many entities involved. They were privately installed,the police department has a key to turn them on and off, and no one seems to be adjusting the timers. Any actions to take? ACTION ITEMS: ❑ Reach out to the school Superintendents (Anne Smith/Chief Grattan to comment) MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION/COMMENTS DURING THE MEETING Bus Stop Shelter (Mary Bess Phillips)-Bus stop on the corner of Front Street and 9"' Street, Greenport,was supposed to have a shelter erected [County Responsible]. No left turn sign (James Kalin) -New no left turn sign on 25 near the monument by the Universalist Church. There was never a sign there before, and it is confusing because it does not say where there is no left turn.Per Brian Cummings,it was part of the DOT highway work permit for the curb cut that the sign be erected. Construction Signs/Roundabout, Greenport(James Kalin)—Near where the roundabout in Greenport will be installed. After Labor Day, three new construction directional signs with the big flashing lights were installed. There has been no construction in the two weeks since 12 TOWN OF SOUTHOLD ° � Orl "�� TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Improved Safety, Environmental Improvements, Quality of Life, Efficient Delivery, Coordination,Education the signs went up. Unfortunately, the County does not give any information regarding their work schedule. ADJOURNMENT—5:45 PM Motion by: Eric McClure Seconded by: John Carter Vote: 10-0 approved MINUTES RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED BY: Tabitha A. Manwaring, Committee Secretary Signature: Dated: XX/XX/2025 13