HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/31/2006
Southold Transportation Commission
Southold Town Hall
July 31, 2006
Present: Neb Brashich, Margaret Brown, Frank Field, Tom Fox, Tom Wickham, Capt. Martin Flatley, Jamie
Richter, Amy Ford, Steven Schneider, PE, Dominic Mautarelli, John Bischoff
Southold Corridor Transportation StUlly: Steve Schneider, traffic engineer and principal of Schneider
Engineering, PLLC came to explain the study he is undertaking for the Town Board. He will be looking at the
transportation corridor of the whole town from Laurel to Orient on both Routes 25 and 48. Neb told him that the
corridor became a State designated SCenic Byway in 2001. The study will identify where the traffic problems are,
including accidents, parking, congestion and safety. The new data collection will include studies already done by
the Town, County and State. Schneider has put traffic counters out for one week during the July 4th weekend and
is now counting a "typical summer week" at 8 or 9 locations east bound and west bound. They will take another
set of counts just before Halloween to get the fall harvest season. The DOT will share their data in return for
Schneider data. Neb mentioned the need to consider the high percentage of elderly drivers in our area and he also
asked how individual cars making multiple trips in one day are counted. Schneider identified several traffic
generators, including ferries, wineries, farmstands, schools, hamlet centers, housing density, and seasonal events.
He asked us where our areas of concern lie and where the primary areas of high density housing will be.
With regard to the Cross Sound Ferry, he pointed out that it is part of the Interstate Highway system and
will therefore not be scaled back. In fact federal money has been made available to improve the ferry terminals
because it is in the government's interest to reduce traffic on 1-95.
He plans to do a survey in several wineries and in Greenport to learn the point of origin, final destination,
trip purpose and list of places visited by travelers on the North Fork. For this he needs to hire 8-10 people for 2
days at $9/hour.
The Town Board wants to put a cap on the number of cars that can go on the ferry. Also, the Board wants
to know what the optimum volume would be. He expects to have a rough draft in early August.
Love T "ne Closure: President Dominic Mautarelli and John Bischoff, representatives of the Mattituck Chamber
of Commerce came to discuss their plans to close Love Lane in Mattituck on Saturday night, August 19 for an
event including a movie. The permit for this closure has been granted. The Town may be agreeable to several
more closures, whose purpose would be to allow people to stroll, shop, and dine. Experience gained from
closures this summer will be used to guide plans for more extensive closures next year. The Chamber will come
back at a later dated to report on this project.
SF.F.OS Update: The Town Board will meet with Tom Neely, Chairman of EETC on August 22 at lOAM. Mr.
Neely will present the SEEDS document. A packet including the final report, a draft of the Memorandum of
Understanding, and suggested project areas for the Town to prioritize will be sent to each Board member.
Orient C",useway Project Status Report: Jamie hasn't talked to the consultant.
Town Orientation/Interpretive Signlll:e Project U.pdate: Neb received a call from the DOT Regional office. A
grant of $200, 000, total project cost, has been awarded with a Town buy-in of 20%. They would like to have a
meeting. At the same time, Neb has been asked to review the L.I. North Shore Heritage Management Plan. This
covers Great Neck to Orient. It is an excellent document and includes signage and scenic byways. The North
Fork is called the "Harvest Coast". Neb asked that we approve the document. Tom suggested that Neb write a
note from the Commission to the Town Board pointing out the value of this report.
County ROlle! 48 Roundabout: Funding is still being sought for a Cox Neck Road roundabout. Neb suggested that
funding for a roundabout at Westphalia Road and Rte. 48 be included in the Cox Neck Road request. Tom
Wickham reported that Westphalia has now overtaken precedence for attention and Legislator Ed Romaine is
pressing for a traffic light there. Tom is worried about increased public pressure for traffic lights at all significant
intersections on Rte. 48. The Commission should recognize that if that happens, Rte. 48 will cease to function as
a through traffic corridor. Wickham says we need a plan for the Rte. 48 corridor to prevent haphazard treatment.
Tom Fox suggested a round-about at Rte. 48 and 25 in Greenport because the State and County both have
jurisdiction there and it would be a good demonstrntion for the public.
Warex PrQject. Main Road. Mattituck: The CITGO gas station at Factory Ave and Main Road in Mattituck wants
to abandon its repair bays and expand its convenience store and add a car wash. It wants to change the entrance
on Rte. 25 and exit onto Factory A venue. This discussion was tabled until the next meeting.
Stop Sign Request: On June 27, Art Burns made a request for a 4-way stop sign at Zigsby Road and Peconic Bay
Boulevard in Mattituck. The Commission will go look at the site. Capt. Flatley will check on accidents at the
site. Subject to verification of accidents, the commission may not endorse a 4-way stop at this time.
Traffic Ught Request MilllPeconic Lane and CR 48: A traffic light at Peconic Lane and Rte. 48 in Peconic is
about to go on line. In response to a letter from Unda and Frederic Kedenburg, Neb will inform them of this
development.
Five Town Rural Transit Update: Margaret reported that 5TRT is still waiting to hear about funding for its
feasibility study.
Old Business: The bus shelter project is still waiting for two easements in Greenport and East Marion.
New Business: The Civic Association of New Suffolk came to the Town Board about illegal parking of trailers in
the public parking space. They must have Town stickers. This item may receive further attention at the next
meeting.
The next meeting will be Monday August 28, 2006 at 10 AM, Southold Town Hall.
Respectfully submitted, Margaret H. Brown