Larchmont board adopts Safe Streets plan and endorses 2025 implementation grant application

The Village of Larchmont Board of Trustees voted June 16 to adopt a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) safety action plan and to endorse submission of a 2025 SS4A implementation grant application to fund transportation safety improvements.

AKRF consultant Elaine Du presented the plan, which she said was formed from more than 700 resident survey responses and a three-year crash analysis. "One in four people who responded said yes" to being in a crash or near-miss, Du said, highlighting bicyclists and pedestrians as disproportionately affected. The consultant reported roughly 428 crashes over the past three years, producing 58 injuries and seven serious injuries and noted there were no fatalities in that period.

The plan recommends engineering and programmatic measures to reduce conflicts and shorten pedestrian crossings, including daylighting (adjusted parking), curb extensions, converting wide four-lane segments to three lanes to add bicycle and pedestrian space, intersection reconfiguration and roundabout or temporary roundabout pilots. Du proposed a HAWK pedestrian signal near the train station (adjacent to Casper Avenue School) and sidewalk upgrades along Vandenberg as specific projects under consideration.

Du urged the board to pursue available funding: she said the SS4A program has nationwide opportunities for planning supplements and demonstrations (about $300 million) and for implementation grants (about $700 million), and she noted a Westchester County Complete Streets fund available at the county level. Du said the village planned to apply for supplemental planning, demonstration and implementation grants and reminded the board that the SS4A application deadline is June 26.

Board members praised the community engagement and asked technical questions about curb extension types and tradeoffs; Du said temporary, paint-based curb extensions can provide lower-cost pilots before committing to full concrete construction. Mayor (speaker S2) and other trustees moved and seconded the resolution to adopt the SS4A safety action plan with a minor edit to the resolve clause to be inserted by the village attorney; the motion passed by voice vote ('Aye'). The board then approved endorsement of submitting the 2025 implementation grant application on a voice vote.

Next steps included finalizing the edit requested by the village attorney, continuing task force engagement in July to debrief on the application and submitting the grant application before the June 26 deadline.