Smithtown road plans raise traffic concern

If traffic congestion on Main Street in Smithtown is bad now, it figures to worsen next year when one of two westbound lanes is painted out of existence. At least, that's what John Cattonar Sr. thinks.

"It's going to jam up traffic even worse than it is, and I'm glad I'm not going to go there during rush hour," said Cattonar, 71, a retired Grumman engineer from Kings Park. "I know it's going to be good for pedestrians, but we seem to be disregarding drivers who have to go back and forth there to go to work."

The state Department of Transportation last week announced plans to create a median and turning lane on Main Street by painting stripes in a six-block stretch of the road, state routes 25 and 25A. Officials hope to reduce accidents on the thoroughfare, where three pedestrians have been struck and killed since November 2009.

Work to re-stripe Main Street is expected to begin in February and should be completed by Memorial Day. The state also plans to install traffic signals that remain red during off-peak hours until a car is electronically detected.

But while most local officials embraced the proposal, some safety advocates expressed disappointment. Ryan Lynch, a senior planner for the Manhattan-based Tri-State Transportation Campaign, said he was "hoping for more."

"We don't think that this fully addresses the traffic needs on Main Street, and we urge the DOT to do a comprehensive study of a raised median and a roundabout," Lynch said.

State officials said a painted median is a temporary solution while engineers study other fixes, including raised medians and traffic circles.

Smithtown residents such as Cattonar said the DOT plan doesn't address the flaws of Main Street, where some intersections lack turning lanes.

"Most of the accidents I've seen are where someone is suddenly going to make a left turn," Cattonar said. "You jam on the brakes."

But most elected officials said they support the DOT plan.

"If we put the facts together and have the data and get the community involved, positive change will come," Assemb. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) said. "It's just breaking through that initial negativity."

Like other officials, Fitzpatrick said he believes a raised median would be the best solution. "But that's going to take some time," he said.

The painted median will help drivers get used to a new traffic pattern, Fitzpatrick said, adding: "I understand the DOT's thinking here. You have to crawl before you can walk before you can run."