HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/06/1997
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Southold Transportation Committee
Southold Town Hall
January 6, 1997
Present: Neboysha Brashich, Glynnis Berry, Margaret Brown, Frank Field, Barbara Heaney,
Bernie Jacobson, Barbara Michelson, Valerie Scopaz; Representalive of NFEC
Neb reported that after sending our Seaview Trails DOT grant agreement to Albany, it was
returned for corrections. Neb and Margaret will send it back today.
Mike Acebo has been asked to resubmit the prooosal on Kavak Trails. It is due on January 15,
1997. This time we will ask for $100,000 for the project Mike Acebo came to the meeting to
present his proposal and discussed a possible site in Greenpol't for a pilot project This large
parcel is off Manhansset, on Beach Road on Sterling Basin. It would be covered by the Harbor
Management Plan and the parking lot is owned by Southold Town. Presently the site is
underused and mis-used as a dumping place by the town for street sweepings and a transfer site
for sand and gravel. Runoff from this and other debris flows into the adjacent wetlands. The
parcel has a baymen's. dock and a beach. It would be ideal as a kayak launch site and a "
community park, especially with the addition of portable toilets. Barbara Heaney will ask the
village to stop dumping. Valerie su.ggested that SOAR be asked to help with landscaping and
replanting. Glynnis will give us the name of an environmental landscaper who might be willing
to consuJt. on this proposal.
Neb and Valerie reported on the East End Transoortation Council plans for 1997. They will take
a broader scope including Lite Rail, the highway system, trails, bus and ferry service, and a It
connection between the East End and McArthur Airport. Their appraisal and suggestions:
* Rail Service is vital but seriously underused. The railroad provider focus is on the
commuter into NYc. The Council feels that minor changes made in frequency of service would
help ridership. For the short term, EETC proposes that the URR work with the Council in 1997-
1998 to achieve more frequent, better scheduling. In the long term, the Council would seek state
and federal funding to study lite rail on the East End, linking the end of the Port Jefferson line
and Greenport. Also, they would look into the use of highway rights-of-way to connect Speonk
and Riverhead to the South Fork line.
* Bus Service is currently provided by private and public entities which are not
coordinated to their optimum. In the short term, the Council would like to see better schedule
coordination so that employment centers, railroad stations and other transportation hubs are
served more efficiently. In the longer term, the Council would like to see the reinstating of mini
bus service in local areas using a publidprivate partnership. The vineyards are willing to put up
some money in this regard and public money is also available. Bus routes are needed to the
airport(s), as well as bus stops in new residential areas. The Council will ask the county to meet
to discuss these needs. They will also ask the county to publisn bus routes and schedule
information.
*Recreational Trails are important to the tourist economy (as well as for local usage) and
should be given higher priority. The Council urges an extension of the inter-town cooperation
for trail routing and funding which already exists between East Hampton and Southampton.
They would also like to have Greenport. Southold, and Riverhead get involved and would like to
see a link across Shelter Island, especially for bicycle trails. Victor Brown, Dick Ward and the
county are working on a GIS map of trails for both forks. The Council would like the North and
South Forks to pool the information available on trail development and construction.
* Partial agreement was achieved on the ferry issue of how to limit ferry development
overall, probably through land use laws. No snort term solutions were agreed upon.
* Airport- in the snort term, public and private mass transit to Islip-McArthur Airport
from the East End will be investigated.
*Roads - the highway network should be improved to improve the economy. In the short
term, the EETC will lobby for an East End representative to have a position on the Integrated
Capacity Mobility Study committee, which will study the range of options for road use on the
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East End. It is essential that the East End be represented at county and state levels as "S-year
plans" are developed since they have a major impact on the quality of life on the East End.
In the discussion that followed. general concern was expressed for the need for Riverhead
become more actively involved in the EETC planning process.
Neb will meet with Mayor Kapell to set up a meeting with the National Park Service and
representatives from Greenport. The meeting is expected to take place in January.
The Committee received a letter from Mark Woods of the State Department of
Transportation regarding our Scenic Byways proposal (SB 93.09321) stating that the DOTIDOS
agreement has been terminated. DOT is now able to enter into a negotiating agreement with the
Town of Southold to allow the work to proceed. Southold Town will need to provide the
required matching funds.
The next meeting will be Monday, February 3, 1997, 8:30AM at Southold Town Hall.
Respectfully submitted, Margaret H. Brown
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