Lindenhurst may open Broadway to ease traffic congestion near downtown
Most of Lindenhurst’s north-south roads dead end at the Long Island Rail Road tracks, which sit above Hoffman Avenue. Credit: Danielle Silverman
Lindenhurst officials are considering a plan to open up a major thoroughfare in the village that dead ends at the Long Island Rail Road trestle to relieve congestion on other roads.
The village board last week approved a hearing in September to gauge public opinion on opening Broadway underneath the tracks, but on Thursday cancelled it.
“It’s not that we’re getting rid of the idea, but I just want to fine-tune a few things before we move forward,” said Mayor Mike Lavorata.
Most of the village’s north-south roads dead end at the tracks, which sit above Hoffman Avenue. The only roadways that continue through are 5th and 8th streets and Delaware, Strongs and Wellwood avenues. Officials said those thoroughfares have become clogged in recent years due to an increasingly robust downtown and a new 260-unit apartment complex on Hoffman.
“There haven’t been any changes to the flow of traffic in the village in probably 40, 50 years,” said Suffolk County Legis. Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst), who has been spearheading the discussion on Broadway. “But we’ve had significant changes in our downtown . . . . so it might be a good idea to spread some of that traffic to other areas.”
While Broadway is a village road, Hoffman belongs to the county. McCaffrey has earmarked $300,000 in capital funds in the 2023 budget toward the project. Opening up Broadway would involve removing curbs, grading the roadway, installing a traffic light and eliminating the LIRR parking under the tracks. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which owns the land but has a lease agreement with the village, would have to sign off on the project.
McCaffrey pointed to traffic accidents and a pedestrian fatality that occurred several years ago at the site and said the measures would make the area safer. He said the project may include another traffic light where Broadway empties into Wellwood, which could slow traffic there, making it safer for pedestrians and allowing residents of nearby dead-end streets to more easily exit.
“I think it would be a real game changer in terms of redesigning the traffic flow into the village in a positive way,” he said.
Traffic and feasibility studies would need to be done, but first the village will seek public opinion at a future hearing.
“Before we take any serious steps in allocating any funds or efforts into it, we want to be sure it’s something that best serves the public and the village at large,” said trustee RJ Renna.
Denise Bonilla has worked at Newsday since 2003 and covers the Town of Babylon, including the villages of Lindenhurst and Amityville.
