State, Town Team Up to Improve Pedestrian Safety in Montauk, Amagansett

EAST HAMPTON, NY — With an influx of traffic on bucolic local roads, pedestrian safety continues to be a critical issue and safety concern.

That's why East Hampton Town offiials and New York State lawmakers have teamed up with a plan to make local thoroughfares safer for pedestrians.

New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele and New York State Senator Ken LaValle, along with members of the East Hampton Town board, are set to host a press conference Monday in Amagansett to announce a partnership to improve pedestrian safety.

East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell said LaValle and Thiele have helped to secure $250,000 in state funding to construct four crosswalks, two in Montauk and two in Amagansett, "locations where, day and night, there's a lot of pedestrian traffic," he said.

The total cost of the project, including engineering and design, is expected to be $350,000, Cantwell said, with the remainder of the balance being contributed by East Hampton Town.

A traffic engineer has already been hired, and hopefully, the design, with public input, will be complete by fall, the supervisor said. "Our goal is to have all four crosswalks completed for next summer," Cantwell said.

East Hampton Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo said the crosswalks are critically important.

"The overall volume of vehicular traffic has increased exponentially over the past 10 years," he said. "Given the number of vehicles on the roadways, along with the corresponding increase in pedestrian and bicycle traffic, enhancements to the crosswalks and the ability for pedestrians to safely navigate the main thoroughfares in the business districts is a tremendous improvement."

Flashing signal indicators have been a help to the village pedestrian flow, he added. "We hope to see more use of the crosswalks and less random crossing of the roadway with these locations."

Google street view image.