Village Presents Old Post Road North Traffic Study, Residents Push Back on Flashing Beacons and Question Whether Crosswalks Alone Will Make Crossing Safer

Village Manager Bryan Healy and Superintendent of Public Works Frank Balbi presented the findings of a traffic study on Old Post Road North to about 10 residents at a June 11 public information session, proposing crosswalks, curb extensions, and flashing beacons to improve pedestrian safety in the corridor between Hunter Place and Michaels Lane.

The study was commissioned by the Board of Trustees last year and conducted by AKRF, a White Plains-based consulting engineering firm. Data was collected over seven days in September, after the school year began. The study found that most vehicles travel at or below the 25 mph speed limit, there have been no traffic accidents in the area in the past 15 years, and relatively few pedestrians were counted crossing during the observation periods. The main deficiencies identified were the absence of crosswalks, poor sight distance at the Lowndesbury and Michaels Lane intersections, and wide turning radii that allow vehicles to take curves at higher speeds. The proposed design includes two new crosswalks — one at the existing stop sign at Hunter Place and one connecting a new curb extension at Lowndesbury across to the existing sidewalk — along with a rectangular rapid flashing beacon at Michaels Lane. Curb extensions, commonly called bump outs, would narrow the roadway at both intersections to reduce turning radii and shorten pedestrian crossing distances. The beacon at Michaels Lane would be activated by a push button, similar to the two already installed on Maple Street near the middle school and Wood Road. Alicia Infoniaccio, a Michaels Lane resident for more than 50 years, noted that the stop sign at Hunter Place was installed after an accident in which a car T-boned a vehicle turning left into Michaels Lane during school bus pickup. The retaining wall at that intersection, built in 1951, has since created persistent sight distance problems for drivers turning left. Resident concerns Several residents pushed back on the flashing beacon proposal. Victor Ilenardo of 71 Old Post Road, joined by his wife Lisa, said the physical sign would add to an already cluttered streetscape. "There are no less than four posted signs along between our house and Jimmy's house," {{quote:743}} Lisa Ilenardo said. "It's decreasing the value of our property." {{quote:743}} Victor Ilenardo called the beacon "overkill for what we need" {{quote:621}} on a low-volume road where most cars already travel at or below the speed limit. Lisa Ilenardo also raised concerns about construction duration on Lowndesbury, the only access road to homes on that street, given the ongoing Con Edison gas main replacement work that has already disrupted access. Balbi estimated the project would take about a month and said the village would maintain access throughout.

Snow removal drew concerns from multiple residents. Infoniaccio said she and her neighbor Janet Meyer, 85, were worried about where plowed snow would go once curb extensions eliminate the corners where DPW typically piles it. "If there's a snow mound there, nobody's gonna be able to hit that stop sign if they have to climb over a snow mound to hit the button to cross," {{quote:1725}} she said. Balbi assured residents that snow would not be piled on crosswalks and that the department would adjust its practices. James, a resident whose property abuts one of the proposed crosswalks, questioned who would be responsible for shoveling the new curb extensions and raised the broader question of whether the project was proportionate to demand. "We're building all this for nine people to cross the road," {{quote:1078}} he said. Healy noted the study counted crossings only during a four-hour window and that the improvements serve the broader area, not just Michaels Lane. The stop sign debate The most persistent theme from residents was the desire for a stop sign at Michaels Lane. Michael Schwartz, who lives on Michaels Lane with his wife Jamie, said roughly 17 children live on the street. "It still means that 20 cars are going above 30 miles an hour on Michaels Lane, which all it takes is one person going 50 to hit one of my children," {{quote:1851}} he said. Balbi said the traffic consultant evaluated a stop sign at Michaels Lane but recommended against it. The intersection is too close to the existing stop sign at Hunter Place, and research shows that adding stop signs on through roads can paradoxically cause drivers to speed up between stops to make up lost time. "When you add stop signs, people actually go faster because they have that makeup speed because they had to stop," {{quote:1949}} Balbi said. Jamie Schwartz, who crosses the intersection up to 10 times daily, said the study's data did not capture the reality of living there. "The study, they don't live here," {{quote:2254}} she said. She also questioned whether drivers descending the hill would have enough time to see and react to a flashing beacon. Trustee Maria Slippen, who lives on the corridor, echoed the residents' concerns. "It feels like we don't have the right solution, and I don't totally understand why we can't relook at the stop sign," {{quote:2804}} she said, adding that she understood the traffic engineering guidance but wanted the village to keep looking. "I feel like we're about halfway through this process, not closer to the end." {{quote:3105}}

One resident, David of Michaels Lane, supported the flashing beacon, saying he feels unsafe every time he crosses. He also suggested a convex mirror to help drivers turning left from Michaels Lane see traffic coming from the hill, but Balbi said traffic engineering standards prohibit mirrors because they make it difficult to judge distance and speed. Lisa Ilenardo suggested speed bumps as an alternative that would slow all vehicles, giving pedestrians more time to cross. Healy said the village would bring the feedback to AKRF and revisit the recommendations. Slippen asked that residents have another opportunity to weigh in before the board makes a final decision. Healy said the matter would likely be discussed at a future work session.