Syosset BoE seeks traffic solution at HS entrance

From page 1 has seen two accidents that involved Syosset CSD buses – one was not serious for the district’s bus but for the other vehicles in the crash. The second accident was more serious for the district, but fortunately no one was injured in these accidents.

The district went so far in its considerations to have traffic engineering consultants H2M Architects + Engineers of Melville perform a traffic study of the intersection.

“The accidents point to the fact that it is a dangerous intersection and people tend to approach it while driving at a high speed – particularly on Cold Spring Road. Having a traffic device there would make it a much safer intersection for everyone, not just school district vehicles but everyone who uses that intersection. BUT I do not believe our traffic study was persuasive enough to make the case for a traffic light there,” he said.

School Board Trustee Jack Ostrick asked what metrics are in play for the Town of Oyster Bay to allow for a traffic light on Cold Spring Road and South Woods Road.

“Is there anything we can learn from that scenario to use to have a light installed where we want it?” he asked.

Dr. Rogers noted that he’s learned some aspects in the process of lobbying for a new signal in front of SHS. He presumes that the Cold Spring Road/South Woods Road intersection meets the criteria to have a traffic light installed.

“To do it there is a series of criteria that has to be met in order to get what’s called a warrant. To earn that warrant, there are things about traffic volume, the number of accidents at the location and a particular series of steps to check off and go through,” he said.

Board Trustee Ostrick said a next step might be suggesting signage for vehicles to slow down, or a speed hump and even having a crossing guard present, rather than proceed the uphill battle to get a traffic light installed outside of SHS.

“There must be something else within the County’s control that if we can’t make a traffic light, maybe we can make the next level II step,” he said.

Dr. Rogers noted that the district offered the idea of an operable STOP sign which folds in half and only works for a part of the day, as needed. Syosset CSD told Nassau County they could have district employees open and close the sign at the right times, arrival and dismissal phases at SHS.

“Their worry about that is apparently it would confuse drivers, as some days you are able to speed through and on other days you must stop there. They feel this would contribute to more accidents and not less,” he noted.

Another idea the district proposed for the intersection was a light flashing yellow for one direction of traffic and red for the other, then alternating. Dr. Rogers says to date, the proposals have been rejected again and again.

“The district would be willing to staff the intersection with a crossing guard, or even somebody just to direct traffic, and it’s a great suggestion. But Nassau County law states that only County employees can stand in the street and we cannot. My impression is that they recognize the shortage of crossing guards in Nassau County, and adding one to a high school property would come up as a low priority compared with staffing crossing guards at elementary school properties. I do not fault any agency and I don’t feel we’re being dismissed but I feel we have not found exactly the right way to make our case yet,” Rogers said.

Ostrick asked if Syosset CSD has done more than speak with Nassau County DPW and if county legislators including former Syosset board of education trustee and alumnus Josh Lafazan has been approached, “potentially as a lobbying effort on our behalf.”

Dr. Rogers said Syosset CSD has engaged with both Nassau County Legislators Arnold Drucker and Josh Lafazan. He has also brought this issue to the attention of Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino, who referred the matter to professionals in the Town administration and TOBAY Highway Department.

Dr. Rogers reports “productive and cordial” conversations about the need for a traffic light outside of SHS with the Highway Department and other Town offices.

During the school year Town Councilwoman Vicki Walsh joined Superintendent Rogers at the curb for the entrance to Syosset High School, to observe the dismissal phase and traffic at that time of day.

“She came to get a sense of it herself, and Mrs. Walsh and Mr. Lafazan also invited members of the Nassau County PD 2nd Precinct who are assigned to schools. They also stood at this intersection and watched the dismissal phase with me. They came another day to watch the arrival phase too,” Dr. Rogers said.

He summarized the conundrum Syosset CSD is currently in for adding a key safety improvement.

“I think the Town and Nassau County adhere closely to their procedures, and we are not at a level where we’ve triggered their procedures yet. We will continue to revisit proposing a light in front of the high school and expressing our thoughts about this,” Dr. Rogers noted.