Frustrated by a growing number of traffic and pedestrian accidents in the area, residents packed the American Legion Hall Thursday night to voice their opinions about safety on a major thoroughfare, Woodfield Road. Comments ranged from concern to outright rage.
Some residents have been urging more attention to crossing safety on Woodfield for over 40 years. Speeding is said to be the primary complaint as well as passing on the two-lane road. Requests have been made for speed bumps, flashing lights, traffic lights with crosswalks and better enforcement. The meeting was convened by the by the West Hempstead Community Support Association and County Legislator John Giuffre following the recent death of a 12-year-old boy who was crossing Woodfield on the way to visit a friend.
Residents had an opportunity to ask questions of several County officials, and were often passionate in their views and their strong desire for safer streets and road (see video). Residents also had a chance to view the meeting via livestream. Legislator Giuffre of District 6 reported on the Department of Public Works Traffic Study currently
underway following the accident, which he expects to be completed shortly. Inspector Gregory Stephanoff, commander of the Nassau County Police Department’s 5th Precinct, spoke about the statistics on Woodfield, insisting the road does not lack from enforcement, with 200 tickets issued annually in addition to an equal number of warnings, but he agreed to step up visibility of marked police cars and portable signage.
The inspector said his enforcement and accident statistics reviewed since 2007 are on par with other county roads in the neighborhood. Other county roads include Hempstead Avenue and Nassau Boulevard. Hempstead Turnpike is a state road. The inspector said he is trying to hire additional crossing guards for West Hempstead.
The Commissioner of Nassau County Department of Public Works was invited to attend but failed to respond to the invitation. Assemblyman Ed Ra attended and agreed that there are a number of locations around town that are in need of safety enhancement.
The Echo will continue to monitor our community’s efforts to make streets safer for drivers and pedestrians.
