HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/03/2003
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Southold Transportation Commission
Southold Town Hall
November 3, 2003
Present Neb Brashich, Margaret Brown, Frank Field, Tom Fox, Pete Harris, Ruth Oliva, Jamie Richter, Victor
L'eplattenier
SEEDS Uodate: The minutes of the September to, 2003 SEEDS meeting included a Modeling Timeline
suggesting that by June 30, 2004 the first modeling scenarios will be complete. Summaries of the Stakeholder
and EETC Performance Measures outcomes were also included in the minutes. Valerie asked that $8500 be
included in the 2004 Town Budget to cover Southold Town's share of the funding for the East End Transportation
Coordinator.
Wind Turbine: LIPA has received a federal grant for the state to do a feasibility study on the location of a wind
turbine. Neb has asked LIPA to put it as far from Rte. 25 as possible.
Orient Causwav Proiect: The Town Board asked Neb to meet with them during a budget session to discuss
funding for an "Operations Manager" who would oversee the various projects undertaken by the Town via the
Transportation Commission. As he explained, volunteers can no longer be expected to have the expertise or time
to do all that needs to be done. Neb suggested a retired person or possibly a consultant on a part time basis as
needed. Neb asked Tom and Margaret to join him at a Town Board work session November 6 to continue this
discussion. The immediate concern is for the proposed undergrounding of power lines on the Orient Causeway,
for which State funding bas been approved. However, local funding and management is needed from the Town
before the project can move forward.
Southold Downtown Beautification Proiect and Rte. 25 Resurfacinl!: The Transportation Commission received a
letter from Southold Town Chief of Police, Carlisle Cochran, regarding the planned new entrance to the Southold
lOA parking lot. He favors moving the entrance further east to ease congestion, but requests that it be used as an
entrance only, and would oppose any plans to incorporate an exit directly onto Rte. 25. Jamie Richter still wants
to consider a right turn only exit as per a DOT recommendation. However, Neb asked Jamie to tell Elizabeth
Chamakkala of the State DOT that we have received a letter from Chief Cochran asking for no exit onto Rte. 25.
The Commission received a letter from Richard Gass, DOT Landscape Architect regarding the Tree
Protocol. It is a big improvement, but still needs "teeth" from the Town for empowerment. Someone from the
Tree Committee needs to sit on the Transportation Commission because all this flows out of Scenic Byways.
There needs to be coordination between the Town Tree Committee, LIPA, Suffolk County DPW, NYSDOT and
the Transportation Commission. There needs to be a place in the budget for this ongoing coordination.
North Fork Trollev Comvanv Proposal: As president of the North Fork Promotion Council, Neb received a
request from the North Fork Trolley Company to provide service on the North Fork. The Trolley would run
seven days a week from April I through October 31 from Riverhead to Oreenport, stopping in every village and
also at vineyards, hotels, motels, B&Bs and restaurants along the route.
The discussion then turned to water taxis, which Tom Fox had investigated. He proposed either a
common carrier service, with designated routes, fees, set schedules; or contract carriers more like a charter
service. Jamie wondered if other public transportation would be readily available at the water stops. Other boat
traffic, boat wakes in marinas, weather, and willingness of waterfront destinations to accommodate ferry stops
need to be considered. Ferry Discretionary Funds can be sought through NYS for construction of boats,
terminals, and parking but must have a dedicated usage.
Old Business: Victor has been working with the Chambers of Commerce on selection of lamp posts. Garrett
Strang, architect, is reviewing the proposed locations of lamp posts and needs to get a Town Board resolution
accepting maintenance responsibilities. Jamie said that if at all possible, the lamps should have common parts
such as bulbs, so that the Town does not have to stock a wide variety of lamp components to service the town
street lamps.
New Business: Pete Harris asked that we send a letter to the NYSDOT to request that they clean up the garbage
along the Orient Causeway, and clear the vegetation that is growing up through the rip rap. Neb suggested that a
letter be drafted for the Supervisor's signature asking for immediate attention.
The next meeting will be Monday Deoember 1,2003, at to AM, Southold Town Hall.
Respectfully submitted, Margaret H. Brown