Wheeler Ave. School road safety under evaluation

Safety concerns about the intersection at Wheeler Avenue and Rockaway Parkway prompted Valley Stream School District 13 to approach village and county officials about the potential dangers posed to students and staff at Wheeler Avenue Elementary.

“There is a lot of traffic at the intersection,” said Superintendent Adrienne Robb-Fund. “Cars travel too fast, which poses a danger during arrival and dismissal, and cars turning right [onto Rockaway Parkway] can cause a backup because our buses use that road and it becomes difficult to pass.”

The village installed a “No Turn on Red” sign at the spot at the district’s request, which it hopes will ease congestion on Rockaway Parkway. Nassau County also installed a speed camera next to the school as part of its countywide program.

“The area directly around the Wheeler Avenue School has become increasingly dangerous, especially for the children and other pedestrians,” said Mayor Ed Fare.  “The village has worked closely with Dr. Robb-Fund to seek ways to reduce traffic, speed and congestion at this particularly unsafe area.”

Robb-Fund said the changes have helped, but only slightly. “The intersection has gotten a little safer since the improvements were made, but we continue to work with village and county officials in order to improve and make it as safe as possible for our children.”

Fare visited the intersection last week to inspect the improvements and consider more. He said Rockaway Parkway is a county road, which prevents the village from making changes to it. The village contacted Nassau County Legislator Fran Becker, who ordered a traffic study.

Fare said the study would include input from parents, teachers, administrators and crossing guards at the school. Further action will be considered once the study is completed.

“We’re willing to try everything, but we want to make sure we take our time and do this right. We anticipate learning a lot from the traffic study, including the times when these issues are the most dangerous,” Fare said.

He said he expected any new regulations would address those times, such as arrival and dismissal.

Fare also stressed that he believes the district, village and county have “done a lot already,” to help make the intersection safer. He said results should show as drivers adjust.

“At this point, it’s all about education. People are adjusting to the speed cameras, learning what they can and cannot do safely, and I think those will help more and people learn more about them and become more accustomed to them. The same can be said with the ‘No Turn on Red,’” Fare said.