COMMUNITY WATCHDOG: Curb cuts too steep for wheelchair
In the Village of Northport, there are several sidewalk curb cuts in the downtown area that are dangerously steep for someone like me, who must use a wheelchair. They're at such a sharp angle that if I tried to navigate them, my wheelchair would tip backwards and fall over. I've been asking village officials for the past 10-12 years that I have been using a wheelchair, as a result of multiple sclerosis to fix the curb cuts, so that I can remain as independent as possible, but there have been no changes.
- Tamar Sherman, Northport
Granted, there are structural obstacles (like a storm drain and manhole cover) and other obstructions that need to be addressed before the curb cut problem can be fixed, but we can't imagine why the village hasn't moved on this issue sooner. Elected officials have come and gone in the past decade, but the dangerous curb cuts haven't been touched.
However, after talking with Deputy Mayor Henry Tobin on Friday, we're convinced he now understands how serious the problem is, and we believe he is committed to getting the job done as soon as possible.
Less than an hour after we contacted him, Tobin, called us back with encouraging news. He had talked with the public works director and they determined that fixing the curb cuts couldn't wait any longer.
Ideally, Tobin said, the village would have community planning sessions to determine how to make the downtown area - including the curb cuts - safe and aesthetically pleasing. But that would have taken even more time.
"We want Northport, in general, and the downtown to be accessible to everyone. And it's also our duty to our residents," Tobin said. "This is serious. This person and many other people have waited far too long, and we'd like to get this off the ground as quickly as we can."
Within a couple of weeks, the village will ask its engineering consultants to draw up plans to make the curb cuts safer. "It'll take a little engineering work to accommodate the utilities, the traffic and property right-of-ways, but it's not insurmountable," Tobin said. The engineers will have to tell village officials what's involved, and what restructuring will need to be done for each of the curb cuts. "We'll move as quickly as we can," he said.
Stay tuned.
Roof work at Sea Cliff LIRR station needs extra approval
I have been commuting from the Sea Cliff railroad station for about a year now. Recently, I noticed a gaping hole in the roof and sent an inquiry to the Long Island Rail Road. The station manager called and said that the LIRR is aware of its poor condition, but since it's a landmark there is nothing they can do. I would like to see at least a temporary repair.
- Larry Best, Sea Cliff
The station's landmark status meant that the LIRR had to do some paperwork before the roof could be repaired. The railroad's engineering department was required to submit a repair plan to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation as well as the National Registry of Historic Places.
Under the terms of the agreement, the LIRR will install a new roof using clapboards - horizontal siding that uses an overlapping style - to replace the existing clapboards. The material was obtained by special order in early October.
"Repairs and renovations are permitted, but must be approved by both agencies to insure that the historic integrity of the station is maintained," said LIRR spokesman Sam Zambuto.
In addition to Sea Cliff, Zambuto said there are 10 other Long Island stations that have similar landmark status: East Hampton, Farmingdale, Forest Hills, Great Neck, Greenport, Jamaica, Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson, St. James and Southampton. Sea Cliff station was built in 1867.
Residents with concerns about LIRR projects should call the Public Affairs Department at 718-558-8228.
- Michael R. Ebert
Additional work delayed street repaving in Great Neck
Months ago, our street in the Village of Great Neck was torn up for some underground roadwork. But the street itself has still not been repaved. Driving a car on it is terrible, and because there are no sidewalks we can't even take a walk for fear of falling. Why has the block been in disrepair so long?
- Claire Fox, Great Neck
Village officials said that your street is one of 10 segments that are being reconstructed by the Department of Public Works this fall. As part of the project, the local water supplier installed new underground service pipes in the neighborhood this summer.
Curbs and drainage work are expected to be completed within the next two weeks, followed by a reconstruction of the street bed and a base and top coat of asphalt paving.
"The work should be done by Thanksgiving Day," said village clerk John Dominsky. "A little inconvenience is unfortunately a consequence of infrastructure improvements."
Village of Great Neck residents with concerns about road projects should contact the village's Public Works Department at 516-482-2000.
- Michael R. Ebert
