Reduce Main Street to 2 lanes, expert says

Reducing Main Street in Smithtown from four lanes to two and building a traffic circle could reduce accidents and improve traffic flow on the state highway, which has been plagued with fatalities, a road safety advocate said Monday.

During a series of meetings with state and local officials and Smithtown residents, Dan Burden called for changes that he said would cause people to drive more carefully and allow pedestrians to cross safely. Burden, former pedestrian and bicycle coordinator for the state of Florida, is executive director of Walkable and Livable Communities Institute in Port Townsend, Wash.

He was hired by the New York chapter of AARP to recommend changes on Main Street, which is state routes 25 and 25A.

Three pedestrians have died since November 2009 after being struck on Main Street: Seamus Byrne, 33, of Smithtown, was killed in February; Charles Doonan, 65, of Flushing, died in August 2010 after being struck seven months earlier, and Courtney Sipes, 11, of Smithtown, was killed on Nov. 24, 2009.

Traffic safety advocates say Main Street is one of the most dangerous roads in downstate New York.

Burden met Monday morning with state transportation officials, who are considering changes to improve safety on Main Street. Those officials are expected to discuss their plans next week with select Smithtown officials and residents.

Burden led a walking tour Monday afternoon for about 40 officials, residents, safety advocates and journalists. He said a single lane in each direction would discourage dangerous driving habits such as speeding and frequent lane changes.

"It brings down the speed," Burden said. "You cannot go faster than the driver in front of you."

Courtney Sipes' mother, Lavena, who took the tour with Byrne's mother, Rose Marie, said state officials should consider reducing the road to two lanes. "How can we not look at that?" Sipes said.

Smithtown Councilman Kevin Malloy, who also walked with Burden, said narrowing the road was "doable" and worth considering.

Burden suggested lowering traffic signals and installing devices to reduce glare that prevents drivers from seeing the signals. At the intersection of Main Street and state Route 111, a traffic circle "could greatly take away the delays" there, Burden said. Signals now govern traffic flow.

After the tour, Burden said state officials seemed "dubious . . . but interested" in his proposals.

A state transportation spokeswoman, Eileen Peters, confirmed the meeting with Burden but said officials did not view his proposals. "We look forward to seeing his recommendations," she said.