Russell Gardens adds a traffic circle, but not everyone is going with the flow

The Village of Russell Gardens has installed a temporary traffic circle amid its treelined streets to combat what officials say is a recent uptick in reckless driving, but not everyone is happy with it. 

The circle has been in place since May 15, and the decision to keep it through the summer was approved at a village board meeting last month as officials consider a permanent solution for the site. While the circle is touted as a safety measure in the North Hempstead village, some oppose its extended stay over concerns about its appearance, and there are questions about whether some drivers are actually using it correctly.

The makeshift circle sits at the residential intersection of Clent Road and Wensley Drive — the village’s busiest, according to Deputy Mayor Larry Chaleff. The circle is made up of orange barrels and yellow tape, with signs directing drivers how to properly navigate it.

Chaleff said it was needed because of frequent reports of nighttime speeding and reckless driving where the roads intersect.

"At first it was once in a blue moon at 2 a.m., and then it became a regular event ... it was becoming a very dangerous situation," he said. 

Another street, Merrivale Road, merges with Clent Road just before the intersection.

During a recent visit, circular skid marks were visible within the circle, which substitutes for what has been a four-way stop intersection. Residents who live nearby said that before the circle was installed, they had witnessed drivers ignoring the stop signs and speeding past.

"People just fly through the stop signs. That’s the problem," said Jane Krakauer, who lives on Wensley Drive beside the circle.

Improved safety

The safety aspect of circles is bolstered by the New York State Department of Transportation's website. It says roundabouts "have been reported to be performing favorably, when compared with conventional controlled intersections (i.e., stop signs or signals), in terms of improved safety, shorter delays, increased capacity, and improved esthetics."

Robert Sinclair Jr., senior director of public affairs for AAA Northeast, said circles are effective in addressing reckless driving, which he described as part of a growing problem with “street takeovers” by groups of drivers.

He added that circles are “very effective at lowering the incidence of crashes at intersections.”

But the addition of this particular circle has come with other challenges. Some drivers are not following the roundabout’s arrows and are making left-turn shortcuts. On a recent weekday, drivers were observed doing just that when no other cars were present.

A man who lives nearby and who didn't want to be named said he's worried the current version compromises his curb appeal and will affect his property value. Krakauer said she supports the circle as a safety measure, "but not the way it is; too big, too unsightly."

Village looks ahead

Chaleff emphasized the current circle is only a temporary solution. Its fate will be determined by Labor Day, when the structure is set to be removed and officials will announce their decision regarding a permanent installation, he said.

Chaleff said the village will bring in a professional firm that specializes in traffic control at intersections and have it provide feedback on the best course of action. "We don't know whether it's a roundabout, a reconfiguring of the sidewalks to tighten the intersection itself, or a combination," he said.

Chaleff said the permanent solution will match the character of the quiet village.

"It's not going to be just some commercially looking area. We'll plant it, we'll do lighting, we might put some sort of a statue, something that is in character with the village, maybe we'll put a village clock in ... we'll put a tree, we'll do something that'll make it aesthetically pleasing, no question," he said.