The need for safer and improved traffic patterns in Elmont has inspired members of the Locustwood Gotham Civic Association, an Elmont-based community group, to rally for traffic changes between Wellington Road and Holland Avenue.
The side roads, currently two-way, have been a source of safety concerns for years, members said. In response to the complaints, the board revealed plans during a Feb. 19 meeting to submit a petition to the Town of Hempstead requesting authorities change the roads to one-way streets.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation website, one-way streets can improve pedestrian safety by simplifying crossings, as well as manage traffic patterns in heavily congested areas.
Sherie Turner, a member of the civic association, said the traffic is unmanageable and outright dangerous to residents. She expressed concern for two of her children who walk along the street they reside on, Biltmore Avenue, to their bus stop every weekday morning.
“The flow of traffic is terrible,” Turner said. “It’s dangerous. Constantly, people are about to hit each other.”
She explained that the current traffic flow forces motorists attempting to travel the opposite direction of Gotham Avenue, a northbound one-way street, to make a left turn onto Hempstead Turnpike. From there, she continued, they must make another left turn onto Biltmore or Fieldmere Street in order to travel south again.
However, she said, Biltmore and Fieldmere are both two-way streets. This means any motorist forced to use those streets to turn around will encounter other motorists from two different directions. That’s why, she said, there’s constant traffic buildup from motorists waiting to make left turns on the busy streets.
In addition, she said there is a busy car wash on the corner of Biltmore and Hempstead Turnpike. Customers waiting in line for service also block motorists from making turns onto the turnpike. The result, she concluded, is hazardous driving conditions involving road blockage and unsafe driving practices, such as motorists reversing their vehicles down side blocks.
Bob Barker, president of the civic association, cited the increased traffic from tourism at UBS Arena as a source of congestion. While he is happy to have tourists from other neighborhoods visit the arena, he said it has dramatically impaired traffic flow.
The arena, which accommodates up to 18,500 visitors per event, is located a few blocks away from Gotham on the opposite side of the turnpike.
According to statistics released by Pollstar, a website that provides entertainment industry metrics, the arena welcomed 1.4 million visitors in 2021. While there are no statistics provided beyond that initial year, the website does indicate a significant increase in events since its first year of operation.
Dale Davids, the civic association’s traffic safety committee chairperson, who is spearheading the petition, said he has a child who attends the school on Gotham Avenue and a child who attends Elmont Memorial High School. He said it is a common occurrence for motorists to drive through the nearby streets without caution.
“It’s ridiculous,” he asserted. “And it’s not safe.”
He believes implementing one-way streets would not only be safer, but maintain the character of the town.
The traffic problem, Barker claimed, has been escalating near the school, where he drops off his grandson in the mornings. He is also concerned about drivers of emergency vehicles and their ability to respond to incidents without delays from traffic down the narrow streets.
“Chaos,” he said of the traffic. “I’m surprised no one really got seriously hurt.”
These growing concerns led to a discussion among traffic safety officers in the civic association about two years ago, Barker recalled.
They began brainstorming about how to address residents’ concerns, receiving input from members and others living on the surrounding streets near Gotham and UBS. The board eventually decided one-way streets would be effective in controlling the flow of traffic based on feedback and research.
“This is something we are very, very passionate about,” Barker asserted.
He hopes the Town of Hempstead responds to their request favorably despite what he described as “antiquated” laws that could hinder their progress. He said, if necessary, amendments could be made to town laws to make life safer and easier for its residents.
“Progress is about change,” he said. “You cannot continue to look, or to operate, on the premises that those laws are still in effect.”
The town should not wait until accidents happen, he added, in order to implement new traffic regulations. He said it is about being proactive not reactionary.
In the past, he said, the town has addressed traffic safety concerns as a result of the civic association’s efforts.
When UBS initially opened the arena, Barker said it was an absolute mess. Visitors from all over the island attending events would park on nearby residential streets and block residents from parking anywhere near their homes.
In response, the civic association asked the town to implement parking permits on specific streets to ensure only local residents could park in the designated area.
Barker encouraged people to visit the arena and the new shopping village, as well as the racetrack when it eventually reopens. But, he said, he wants to change how people view Elmont and their ability to manage traffic safety for residents and visitors. This is why, he said, implementing one-way streets is imperative.
The petition, which was organized by Dale Davids, can be found on Change.org by searching his name.
