Politics & Government
State Sen. Schumer Seeks Implementation of Main Street Safety Measures
In a letter to the New York State Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, the senator asked for resources and experts come together to rectify the Main Street safety issue.
State Sen. Charles Schumer has joined the movement for a safer Main Street as he has asked the New York State Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration in a letter to come together to create a plan to make Main Street safer for pedestrians.
“It is imperative that NYSDOT and FHWA deploy the appropriate financial resources and expertise to resolve this outstanding problem,” Schumer wrote in his letter to DOT Commissioner Joan MacDonald and FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez.
In a statement released by Thursday, the senator stated his request for a plan to be created for Main Street based on pedestrian safety and for locals to be able to walk to businesses along the roadway.
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“Walking across Main Street in Smithtown is a dangerous and deadly proposition and it is past time to address this problem plagued road,” Schumer said in the statement. “The tragic loss of life we have seen on this dangerous road not only has devastated families, but also has a significant impact on local businesses, by sending the impression it is not safe to shop on Main Street.”
Schumer also addressed in the statement specific structural issues with Main Street that need to be rectified, which includes narrow lanes, utility poles at crosswalks that hinder the view of pedestrians, and the 40-foot width of the roadway.
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Since November 2009, there have been three fatal accidents on Main Street. In November 2009, , who was high on heroin at the time of the accident and later sentenced to up to 12 years in jail. Charles Doonan was hit by a vehicle as he was crossing Route 25 headed to the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts in January 2010, and later died from the injuries. This past February, was struck and killed when a car hit him after leaving Napper Tandy's. He had been celebrating his 33rd birthday at the bar.
The latest incident on Main Street involved two Central Islip sisters, Thursday on the northern side of Main Street at Lawrence Avenue on May 5.
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