Route 347: LI’s first “Greenway”

The shovels are in the ground for Long Island's most ambitious regional traffic calming project in years. The Green Route 347 project has been a long time coming. Built in the 1960s, the road has developed into a major arterial for cars and trucks that is plagued by major congestion problems, accidents and a lack of pedestrian facilities. In 1969 there were an average of 48,000 vehicles per day on the roadway, while today that number has increased to 71,000. Over the years, proposals to improve Route 347 have focused on road widening, which practice shows actually increases traffic (think, "if you build it they will come").

Community opposition and political vitriol followed over a decade of planning to remake the corridor.  Hundreds of residents and area businesses fought plan after plan which put the project's funding and implementation in peril.  Criticism of the inflexibility of DOT staff was well underway by regional organizations as well as some local elected officials.  The negative feedback led to some thoughtful negotiations from a number of groups and the Department to take a step back and engage in a redesign.

In January 2009, The New York State Department of Transportation Region 10 announced their "vision plan," which will focus on a 15-mile strip of Nesconset Highway, stretching from the end of the Northern State Parkway to Route 25A in Port Jefferson. The plan includes lowering the speed limit from 55 mph to 45 mph, narrowing lane widths, enhancing sidewalks for pedestrians and bicyclists through a continuous shared use path, shortening street crossing distances and lengthening crosswalk times, installing new medians, creating tree-lined streets, and working to improve transit options along the corridor. The theme of "Parks to Ports and Harbors" will highlight the area's nearby assets, including gateways to highlight entrances to communities and business areas. 

Not only does this project improve the suburban landscape for the Town of Smithtown, and in the future, Brookhaven it improves the pedestrian and vehicular safety while providing efficient vehicular access. There is a bigger picture in that this project represents a seismic shift in the way the DOT does business on Long Island. 

Most importantly, the plan takes initiative to emphasize local communities and build a sense of place along the corridor. This is the first time that NYSDOT Region 10 has radically transformed its plans to meet community interests. The DOT has been committed to partnering with local businesses, civics, transit agencies and other advocacy organizations to build something that works for everyone. Over 500 people attended the first public information session for the project, and recently the DOT hosted an open forum to educate the community and answer questions on preliminary construction plans and traffic management. This community outreach and green design are the primary reasons why the Department received a 2010 Smart Growth Award this last June. 

 This project couldn't have happened without the leadership of former DOT Commissioner Astrid Glynn, current Commissioner Stanley Gee, Region 10 Director Subi Chakraborti, Marc Bocamazo, Margaret Conklin and Heather Sporn. NYS Governor David Paterson's LI Director Michael Harrison, NYS Assemblymembers Michael Fitzpatrick and Steve Engelbright, NYS Senators John Flanagan and Brian Foley along with US Congressman Tim Bishop worked together to support these changes.

The Green Route 347 plan is one example of what should happen on suburban roadways throughout Long Island, and we look forward to tracking its progress over the coming months!

Editor's Note: Author Eric Alexander is the executive director of Vision Long Island, a non-profit Smart Growth planning organization.