By JEFF LIPTON
Bags were placed over the two stop signs at the corner of Ocean and Waukena avenues on Thursday, Aug. 28, and a "Do Not Block the Box" sign was installed.
The town had installed the stop signs in 2006, right before school opened, but county officials said it worsened traffic congestion, prompting them a year ago to determine that the placement of the sign on the county road was inappropriate. Earlier this year, the county put in a detector device on Ocean Avenue to activate the traffic signal at the intersection of Waukena and Park avenues, providing a break on Waukena for drivers who had difficulty entering or leaving Ocean.
When the sensor was installed, county officials said they were told that the town would remove the stop sign at Ocean and Waukena. But town officials, who have been pushing the county for installation of a traffic light, said they never agreed to do that, and the signs had remained in effect until Aug. 28. Ocean Avenue residents said they were "devastated" when they saw the stop sign covered up. They complained that the latest move has caused confusion, which will lead to accidents. "Everyone on my block is horrified," said Debbie Yarm, a 10-year resident of Ocean Avenue whose husband has lived on the block for 50 years. "We have children going to high school who are trying to get off the block and it's basically impossible. There are drivers to the left and the right asking, 'What happened to the stop sign?' and then proceeding. It's an accident waiting to happen.
"One moment there's a stop sign and the next there's not," Yarm added. "It's the most bizarre thing that I've ever seen. Drivers don't know what to do. They're going in so many different directions. It's very dangerous. It's not to be believed."
Jane Faiella, another Ocean Avenue resident, said she also couldn't believe that the stop sign has been covered up. "I waited 25 years to be able to safely get off of my street without feeling that I would get into an accident," she said. "When we finally got a stop sign, I was very happy. The stop sign made it a safer corner."
In reference to the county being at odds with the town about what traffic control would be best for the area, Faiella said, "Whoever is the person with the power will win in this situation."
Yarm expressed hope that the Town of Hempstead will hold a public meeting with area residents to explain what's going on. "The reason that it was not removed is because this is a test period," said Susie Trenkle, a spokeswoman for the Town of Hempstead. "It's now the beginning of school, which is probably the time to do it because there's still a little bit of chaos. The determination will be made when traffic settles back down."
Trenkle said the stop sign will be covered up until county and town officials can determine if the traffic light sensor on its own can upgrade traffic flow and reduce accidents.
"The county wanted the stop sign removed, and there has been some reluctance on the part of the Town of Hempstead," said Trenkle.
She added that the "Do Not Block the Box" sign was put up "so that people will know they can't pull the bag off of the stop sign. We also made gridlock boxes."
Ray Xerri, a resident of Frederick Street, off of Waukena, who had been pleading for the removal of the stop signs, said he has already noticed a big difference. The stop sign caused traffic to be backed up to Oceanside Road from Ocean Avenue, he said.
"There's nothing backed up, nothing there now," he said. "It's like driving on a country road. It makes a huge difference.
"People are still stopping like there's a stop sign," added Xerri. "People have to get adjusted to it. But as far as traffic on Waukena Avenue, the problems solved. The people on Ocean Avenue may not be happy, but I think it's a solution that benefits the entire community. Hopefully, it's permanent."
A battle between the county, which has authority over traffic lights, and the town, which controls stop signs, has been brewing for the past several years over what appropriate traffic controls belong at the Oceanside intersection.
Nassau County Legislator Jeff Toback (D-Oceanside) said he was happy that the town agreed to reexamine the traffic situation at the urging of the county.
"I'm glad the Town of Hempstead has finally acknowledged the deal they made,"said Toback. "In the interest of public safety, the town has to stop playing politics."
Comments about this story? Jlipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
