By Jason Scheer
That's because, after about a year of talks, the section of Nassau Boulevard adjacent to the schools has been designated a 20-mph zone. On Aug. 8, the Hempstead Town Board unanimously approved the change. The previous speed limit was 30 mph.
Proponents of the change, who include local activists, educators and politicians from both the Town of Hempstead and Nassau County, argue that the slower speeds will help protect children from otherwise inevitable accidents. "Nothing is more important than the safety of our children," said Rosalie Norton, president of the West Hempstead Civic Association and a supporter of the change. "We appreciate it. We've waited a long time for it."
Norton said that drivers typically speed on Nassau Boulevard because they have been traveling on nearby highways. The inclination is to continue at highway speed. "Now you're going past a school that has 1,200 to 1,300 students, and if you get there at the wrong time, when the students are going home, there's nothing to stop [drivers]," she said.
West Hempstead school board member Martin Kaye said that the school district first raised the issue of reducing the speed limit four years ago, but to no avail. The reason, Norton explained, was that state law precluded a 20-mph zone outside a high school where a traffic light was present.
However, since the high school is connected to the middle school, the district was able to take advantage of a less stringent guideline.
Town Councilmen James Darcy and Ed Ambrosino said that the change will benefit not only students, but the surrounding area, including those who walk to the local religious institutions. "Not only are we helping the residents, but also the particular area near West Hempstead High School," they said in a statement.
Norton said it's a win-win for residents, since the change "wouldn't harm the flow of traffic on Nassau Boulevard, wouldn't impede motorists more than they should be [and] secured the safety of the children involved."
Nassau Boulevard is a county road. However, the street's signage is maintained by the Town of Hempstead. Thus, the two branches of government had to work together to make the change possible. The town will be posting new signs, designating the reduced speed limit, in the coming weeks.
Comments about this story? Jscheer@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 240
