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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/07/2001 , . . , ~ ~ r r: ~ \1 J;' t'l Minutes of South old Town Transportation Commission Meeting of May 7,2001 JUN 1 8 2001 Present: Neb Brashich Ruth Oliva Michelle Zaloom Bernie Jacobson Jamie Richter Frank Field Suzanne Donovan ...--...."....... '.....",.- -.'" " 1. The Scenic Byways Corridor Management Plan has been completed and will be presented to the Town Board on May 8th. The Board will be asked to adopt the plan and forward it to the New York State Department of Transportation for approval. Neb and Valerie are slated to go to Albany to present this Plan to the State's Scenic Advisory Commission. 2. SeaView Trails: Ruth and Michelle have been working on the content and location of trailhead signs. The Geopositional digitalization of the sign locations has been completed. Jamie mentioned that the Highway Superintendent has asked the Suffolk County Water Authority to repave the shoulder to a level suitable for bicycle traffic after they bury the water supply mains alongside Sound View Avenue. 3. SEEDS: Sustainable East End Development Strategies: A brief synopsis of the status of this project was given, along with a recounting of the April 20th press conference. A copy of the press conference packet was circulated. The SEEDS consultants cannot start work until the State Comptroller's signs off on the contract. However, the State legislature did not pass a budget this April, and it appears that they may not reach agreement on one until September. This delay may necessitate interim involvement by the local Transportation Commissions in order to maintain momentum. (Note: Later in the meeting, Suzanne mentioned that Gerry Bogacz of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council would be contacting East End Transportation Council members via conference call to discuss specific interim actions.) Neb noted that Suzanne was doing a superlative job and that the issue of increasing her salary be brought up to the East End Supervisors and Mayors Association. Valerie responded that she and Supervisor Siller, Chairman of the EES&MA had already discussed the matter and that the subject already had been placed on the agenda of the June EES&MA meeting. 4. Long Island Sound Ferry Coalition: Brief mention was made of the last meeting of the L1SFC, held in Bridgeport on April 17th. The Coalition is negotiating a contract with a consultant to conduct a Long Island , . . , Waterborne Transportation Study. While this study will focus on the improvement of passenger ferry services throughout the Long Island Sound metropolitan region, there will be another study dealing with the introduction of freight transport by water between New York and New Jersey. Additional passenger-only ferry service is being sought to and from Rye's Playland in Westchester County. 5. Suffolk County Joint Executive/Legislative Transportation Task Force: The Chairman of this body, Jack Follis, forwarded the Task Force's report to the County Executive on April 2, 2001. The transmittal letter, as well as the report, contains specific references to transportation and related issues from the East End perspective. Legislator Binder indicated that public hearings would be held on the report at some point in the near future. 6. Long Island Rail Road Draft Implementation Plan for the East End Transportation Study: the draft implementation plan for the study was just released to EETC members. The Study had been released in September of 2000. Neb handed out copies of the sections of this implementation plan that pertained to the Town of Southold. Most of the implementation recommendations for Southold that were noted in the Study are NOT slated to be implemented by the L1RR. The Commission felt that this was unacceptable and that the L1RR should be so informed. Further, there was no recent news on the proposed replacement of the Depot Lane railroad bridge. 7. Correspondence from Southwood Property Owners' Association representative to the Town Board, then the Transportation Commission was reviewed. The letter set forth several suggestions to improve traffic congestion at the intersection of Oaklawn Avenue with SR 25. It was decided that Jamie would discuss the letter with the Highway Superintendent and that Neb would do the same with Chief of Police. A letter containing the Commission's response would then be drafted and sent on to the Town Board. 8. The Commission does not know the status of its recommendations to the Town Board that signage saying "Local Traffic Only" be posted in the vicinity of Mullen Motors. Valerie is to talk with Councilman Moore, who chairs the Legislative or Code Committee to determine status. 9. Griffing Street Parking Lot: Valerie provided an update of this project. The Town, the State Department of Transportation, the Cutchogue Business Improvement District and a business property owner are working together to redesign the intersection and parking area in the vicinity of Griffing Street and SR 25. Preliminary plans have been drawn up and reviewed by all the parties involved. The State DOT's permitting division was asked to provide some comments. A field visit was held last week and some preliminary agreements reached. Upon receipt of sketches or suggestions from the NYSDOT, the Transportation Commission will review with all other partners and try to arrive at a consensus. / . . 10. The next meeting date is June 25th at 9 a.m. 11. County Route 48: the public hearing process was flawed in that it did not reach the summer home population residing on the road. Further, the proposed improvements appear to be contrary to the intent of the Town. The Supervisor has requested that the County DPW present its plans to the Town Board, but no date has been set. 12. L1RR Scheduling Improvements were the topic of Frank Field's research, which revealed that in 1958 train service from Greenport west was faster than it is in 2001. He developed a listing of the schedule and structural modifications that would enable the L1RR to return to 1958 levels of service. If implemented, these changes would permit better service not only to the west, but from the North Ferry. It was agreed that this information would be shared with the Chairman, and a letter drafted and sent to the L1RR. Suzanne mentioned that grant funds may be available through federal transportation initiatives and that we should determine if these monies could be used to implement some of these modifications. 13. Miscellaneous notes: The Chairman had to leave the meeting at 9:00 a.m. Bernie Jacobson was asked and agreed to run the meeting from that point forward. Respectfully submitted by Secretary Pro Tem: Valerie Scopaz.