First new traffi c light in 35 years for City Island
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BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
The NYC Department of
Transportation has approved
a new traffi c signal at the corner
of Bowne Street and City
Island Avenue.
The signal should be installed
by 2020, according to
NYC Department of Transportation,
in time for the opening
of a new catering facility
on the eastern end of Bowne
Street.
The street is frequently
used to access the large restaurant
situated at the corner.
Sometimes the exiting cars are
forced to dangerously cross
oncoming traffi c to make left
turns.
Joanne Valletta, who suggested
the traffi c control for
the location in 2017, said that
the amount of cars exiting the
existing restaurant, Seafood
City, along with other traffi c,
necessitated the new signal.
“We have had increased
traffi c and we have had a lot
of close calls...I myself have
had close calls at the intersection,”
said Valletta, a member
of the newly formed civic
group City Island Rising and
life-long resident of the is-
land.
There has been an increase
in traffi c over her lifetime because
there are more restaurants
and residents on the island
now, she said.
She noted that some of her
neighbors expressed concern
that the additional traffi c light
will slow down traffi c even
further during busy summer
and holiday weekends, when
many visitors come to marinas
and restaurants.
She believes that with the
installation of the new traffi c
light only months away, this
may be a good time to reexamine
the necessity of the Cross
Street light.
“That light was originally
put in place when there was
St. Mary’s School nearby,” she
said of the now shuttered parochial
school.
“We could look into making
it a blinking yellow light if
people are concerned the new
light will slow down traffi c.”
She added she feels the benefi
t of the new traffi c light will
trump everything else.
“I would always go with
caution,” said Valletta, adding
that the help of local activist
John Doyle, who took her idea
and brought it to elected offi -
cials and the appropriate city
agencies, made all of the difference.
She said she is sure that
when the new catering facility
opens, there will be an increase
in both vehicles and
motorists at the intersection.
“It will be the fi rst new
traffi c light on City Island in
at least 35 years,” said Doyle.
“This intersection is so problematic.”
He put in his fi rst 311 request
for the new traffi c signal
at the location in February
2017.
A DOT spokes personstated:
“DOT studied this location and
found this intersection feasible
for a traffi c signal.”
The DOT letter states that
“installation will be performed
by contract and the work is tentatively
scheduled to be completed
by January 31, 2020.”
This intersection, at City Island Avenue and Bowne Street, is slated to see a new traffi c signal by 2020.
Schneps Media / Patrick Rocchio
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