New Blinking Light Trial Program To Be Unveiled at County Road 39 and Tuckahoe Road

SOUTHAMPTON, NY - In an effort to ease traffic woes in Southampton Town, a trial program utilizing blinking lights is set to kick off this spring along County Road 39.

According to Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, the town board green-lighted the pilot program, which will test a new traffic pattern, on Tuesday.

The town and county will work together on the plan, which aims to change the traffic light at the intersection of Tuckahoe Road and CR 39 to a blinking light Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, April 19, 20, and 21, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.

During the pilot, traffic heading south on Tuckahoe Road will be prohibited from turning east, or left, from Tuckahoe Road onto County Road 39. Traffic heading north on Tuckahoe Road will be prohibited from turning west, or left, onto County Road 39. Through traffic on Tuckahoe Road crossing County Road 39 will also be prohibited during the test program.

Schneidrman said county traffic engineers believe changing the traffic light from a stop light to a caution light may reduce stop and go traffic patterns along County Road 39, potentially lessening the morning commute.

The pilot program will also give engineers data to indicate if a more permanent change would lessen some of the morning congestion along County Road 39, especially during spring and summer months.

The blinking light program will cost the town approximately $6,000 to cover additional Southampton Town Police assistance during implementation, Schneiderman said; the Suffolk County Department of Public Works will carry other project-related costs.

Commuters have long bemoaned having to factor in an additional 45 to 60 minutes along that stretch of road; the trade parade heats up during the months between March and June as workers rush to finish jobs for the summer season.

“If we can cut at least ten minutes off a morning commute it may be worth it," Schneiderman said.

Faced with traffic problems 10 years ago, Southampton Town and Suffolk County worked to expand County Road 39 by adding an additional lane both east and west. The $13 million expansion was completed in 2008, but in recent years, that expansion has proven to be inadequate during the heavily congested spring season.