Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Traffic Calming topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge Patchogue to review speed humps and traffic-calming after crashes and near-misses
Summary
Multiple residents described collisions, near-misses and speeding on neighborhood streets and urged the village to evaluate speed humps, rumble strips and signage; trustees asked engineering staff to review hot spots.
Several Patchogue residents used the March 10 public-comment period to press trustees for a systematic review of traffic calming, signage and speed-hump placement after multiple accidents and repeated near-misses in residential neighborhoods.
Don Wocksmith, who identified himself as a resident living near the corner of Bay and Common, described a recent two-car crash and said new speed humps installed during repaving projects had produced mixed results. “We have accidents on Common Street that rival the expressway,” Wocksmith said, asking the village to evaluate whether some speed humps create additional hazards where vehicles go airborne.
Other residents reported repeated collisions and damage to parked vehicles, and said stop signs are frequently ignored. Luann (last name provided to the record) said she observed an oversize dump truck driver who appeared distracted near a bus stop and asked for immediate action, citing safety concerns for children and seniors. “We feel that we need to have some type of solution,” she said.
Trustees and staff acknowledged the concerns and said the village would review specific locations. Mayor and trustees suggested alternatives to conventional speed humps, including rumble strips and round‑about style curb treatments at certain intersections. Trustee comments emphasized that traffic-calming devices can have unintended consequences and that the village will task the engineering department to review problem streets and recommend targeted measures.
Village staff agreed to examine the sites identified by speakers (Common Street, Brightwood Street, Carmen Street and Highland Avenue were mentioned repeatedly) and report back with options that could include revised signage, rumble strips, repositioned speed humps or different pavement treatments. The village engineer, Tim Norberg, was specifically asked to evaluate conditions and recommend solutions.
Why it matters: Residents say traffic safety problems are recurring at multiple neighborhood locations and that past fixes sometimes created new hazards; the village’s engineering review will determine whether adjustments, removal of certain devices or alternative calming measures are appropriate.
