HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/24/2000
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Southold Transportation Commission
Southold Town Hall .
March 29, 2000
Present: Neb Brashich, Margaret Brown, Lt. Ty Cochran, Frank Field, Bernie Jacobson, Jamie Richter, Valerie
Scopaz
Transoortation Commission: There are still two empty seats on the Transportation Commission. Three
candidates are available and when interviews by the Planning Board are complete, Supervisor Cochran will make
her recommendations to the Town Board, probably this week.
Valerie has asked for a subcommittee to study traffic trouble spots on Rtes 48 and 25 because we need a
more focused approach. Neb asked Lt. Cochran to have the police force identify trouble spots and highlight them
on a map. This will help the North Fork Travel Needs Assessment committee to focus on specific details over the
next year.
Traffic Studv: The Traffic Study and the Sustainable Development Study are somewhat merged because their
duties and goals overlap. There will be Technical Advisory Group (fAG) meetings scheduled in June and
October. The June meeting will be to plan for the larger October meeting. Valerie suggested that the TAG be
composed of representatives from the police and highway departments, the planning board, an ordinary citizen,
the postmaster, and a business person such as the owner of IGA. The October meeting will actually be three
meetings: one each in Eastern Riverhead, Southold, and Shelter Island.
Route 25 Imorovements: The final decision by the OOT on the intersection at Rte 25 and Factory Ave. in
Mattituck is that the stripes will be removed after the weather warms up, possibly before Memorial Day Weekend.
The eastbound "no left turn" sign has been removed and east-bound traffic is now allowed to enter the Mattituck
Plaza via the westernmost entrance. The traffic light has been re-calibrated which is supposed to smooth out the
traffic flow. The State wants a letter from the Town absolving the State of all responsibility for any liability
resulting from injuries caused by not following the original design the State proposed.
Suffolk County: Valerie and Jamie Richter met with Paul McMann of the Suffolk County Department of Public
Works to discuss Route 48 and the possibility of adding more medians. Another meeting date will be set,
possibly May 12, so that Valerie, Neb, Lt. Cochran and Jamie Richter can meet with the DPW to discuss this
issue. Supervisor Cochran is concerned that introducing medians may be a precursor to widening the road.
East End Transoortation Council: Valerie, gave an overview of the LIRR Symposium that was held in the new
Shelter Island North Ferry headquarters. The meeting was well attended by people from the entire East End,
Suffolk County, and the State. The consultant for the LIRR had talked to all five towns and all the villages to
figure out how overall service can be improved. Maps of all the train stations showing where the station is
located in each community should be very helpful. Also on the maps will be the next nearest public
transportation facilities - in some places there is a real gap between connections. He also talked about improving
service from the LIRR point of view. We are in "dark country" which means there is only one track and the
signaling system is not adequate for running two trains at once. The LIRR is experimenting with a run in Speonk
using a manual signaling system plus GPS, and they are trying to prove to the US Government that this is as safe
as a manual system. If the Government agrees, it would then be possible to set up a shuttle service between
Riverhead and Greenport.
The consultant also made a strong recommendation that there be increased use of the train stations by
private entrepreneurs. He suggested concessions such as food, bicycle rentals, car rentals, services such as
restrooms and telephones, and shuttles to local recreational spots, vineyards and farmstands.
At the June 21 meeting of Supervisors and Mayors there will be an effort to get a political commitment to
support this concept. Hampton Jitney and South Ferry are already enthusiastic.
Other: Lt. Cochran reported on a letter from Wayne Ugolik of LITP 2000 to Chief Conway asking for more or
updated input on a traffic accident study during the time period from April I, 1996 to March 31, 1999. A
response will be sent.
Ray Jacobs sent a message that the only way to stop truck traffic on Love Lane is by weight and the
police department would need scales for enforcement purposes. Bernie said that Shelter Island has such thing and
will send the Town Code on the subject.
The blinking light in New Suffolk has disappeared and its absence has caused some traffic confusion Ray
will find out what happened and report back.
The Landmark Commission and the Transportation Commission will look into finding a person who can
act as recording secretary for both groups.
The next meeting will be Monday May 22 at 8AM, Southold Town Hall.
Respectfully submitted, Margaret H. Brown