Lower Main Street Revisited

Several months ago, I wrote an article for Patch about on lower Main Street near the intersection of Shore Road. Over $1 million dollars and a couple of years have passed, and a parking lot was finally built (Town of North Hempstead paid – therefore taxpayer expense), with the explanation being that this would enable the Town to eliminate certain parking spots (replaced by lot), and a left turn lane and a thru lane could be created to improve this intersection.

While some might oppose this expenditure, it is important to understand it's already been spent! Others might yearn for the "good old days" with one lane of traffic, etc. While nostalgia is always sweet (wasn't it Paul Simon who wrote, "Everything looks worse in black and white"?), during certain times of day, there is nothing sweet (or environmentally friendly) about traffic backing up for several blocks.

People wonder why it is so difficult attracting business to Port Washington. Well, the reality is, in a peninsula, if it is very time consuming or difficult to get in and out of town, many people don't come. While that might be okay with some, it is important to realize that we also have many more cars coming in and out because we have more houses than we did in those good old days. Think about it– Mill Pond Acres alone added approximately 250 homes (and more than that number of autos).

Some complain that adding a lane would cause safety issues, but if this is done properly, there is certainly far less of a safety issue than there is with cars pulling in and out of the front of the stores there. I have often asked why crossing guards are used elsewhere in Port Washington, but not there. Might that not address any safety concerns?

It seems wasteful and foolish to have spent the time and effort on this, and not complete the intent, by changing the traffic pattern. I know that some stores might complain about losing the very few spots directly in front of ther stores, but realsitically during busy times, the few spots are taken anyway, and there are more spots in the new lot than those being replaced. Stores in shopping centers do not have spots directly in front of them, so let's look at the bigger picture. How does a traffic jam enhance the quality of life on the peninsuls?

After I wrote that article, Town Councilman Fred Pollock posted a response as a comment that the thru lanes would be done this spring. Well, Memorial Day has come and gone (most people consider that the unofficial start of summer), our daily temperatures are already summer like, and HarborFest is this weekend, so obviously there is little chance anything will be done before then. So, when will this project be done? What has been the delay? Why can't we get something promised and predominantly paid for, completed?

Traffic only gets worse as the summer season approaches. More people use the marinas, the restaurants, etc. Is a traffic jam really the first impression we want these people to have as they enter Port Washington?