Letters: Deadly road needs repair

Hempstead Turnpike has proved to be as treacherous and unsafe a road as any in New York State ["Long Island's deadly road," Editorial, Feb. 14]. Many parties are responsible, and they need to work together to fix this blight that runs through the most populated section of Long Island.

This is a state road, and our state elected officials need to step up. To properly address the issues would cost an enormous amount of money -- money that surely state officials will tell you they don't have. This excuse has been given for the past few decades to apathetic voters who idly watch as the same politicians are re-elected year after year. I keep hearing that having a Long Island senator as the Senate majority leader is beneficial to our community, but I have yet to see it.

As for the Town of Oyster Bay, Supervisor John Venditto and the board are dead set against any smart growth or responsible development and allow the continuous haphazard development of Hempstead Turnpike. Zoning is a powerful tool, and when it's not used properly, you get Hempstead Turnpike.

Brendan Mahoney, Farmingdale
 

In January 2010, I wrote a letter to the state Department of Transportation requesting a traffic light at Newbridge Road and Second Avenue in East Meadow. Since the road was widened a few years earlier, it had become increasingly dangerous to turn north, with cars traveling south from Hempstead Turnpike.

I was thrilled with the promising response I received last April, advising me the department determined that a traffic signal is appropriate. However, I am still awaiting any sign of a start date.

Surveys can be done, plans put in place, but, ultimately, if nothing is implemented, then it's not worth the paper it's written on.

Catherine Kropf Harris, Levittown
 

Instead of spending millions of dollars for structural changes to Hempstead Turnpike, why not create jobs by putting crossing guards at the intersections?

Lillian Kufs, East Meadow
 

I have been complaining about the too-short pedestrian crossing light at Jerusalem Avenue and Hempstead Turnpike for years. I have written to and called state Sen. Kemp Hannon (R-Garden City) and Assemb. David McDonough (R-Merrick), and I have gone over to the Eighth Precinct and complained. Both elected officials have been in touch with Subi Chakraborti, the regional director of the state Department of Transportation, on many occasions.

It is almost to the point when we should have pedestrian bridges.

Thomas Caro, Levittown

Editor's note: The writer is the vice president of the Levittown Property Owners Association.
 

While I was visiting family in the St. Petersburg, Fla., area, the Pinellas Trail caught my eye. This paved and fenced-in trail runs alongside the main highway and is elevated as it crosses over streets.

As large trucks passed us on either side, carefree bikers, joggers, skaters and women with strollers traveled the trail in perfect safety.

I realize that solutions of this magnitude don't materialize overnight; however, I encourage Hempstead Town officials to research this alternative.

Debbie Carbone, Centerport