St. Mary’s Road a focus of Island-wide traffic study

Not for the first time, residents on and around St. Mary’s Road are battling to lower speed limits.

In June, Dee Moorhead, a St. Mary’s Road resident, told the Reporter that this has been a more than 35-year struggle with speeding vehicles choosing St. Mary’s Road rather than Route 114 to proceed to either South Ferry or North Ferry. The vehicles are traveling at high speeds on or near a roadway where many families with young children live, and have been concerned for their safety. She and others have been fighting for a solution.

Ms. Moorhead listened to Police Officer Sean Clark at Tuesday morning’s Town Board work session as he outlined results of traffic studies conducted throughout the Island. Perhaps the most surprising factor is that most drivers aren’t speeding.

“St. Mary’s Road is one of our better roads,” Police Chief Jim Read said. Most of the road is posted for 30 mph and then at 35 mph as vehicles approach the end where it merges into Route 114.

The studies track volume of traffic, speed, compliance with posted speed limits, time of day, seasonal differences and the effectiveness of speed limit signs.

Ms. Moorhead isn’t disputing the results, or the technology used to track speeds. Instead, she is focused on children’s safety. They ride bikes and play games in the area and they’re not safe, Ms. Moorhead said. Perhaps much of the day there isn’t a lot of speeding along St. Mary’s Road, but early morning and late afternoon, there are still many vehicles choosing that road rather than remaining on Route 114. She and her neighbors would prefer the entire road be posted for 25 mph and more ticketing.

“Look at the signatures” provided on the petition she has presented, with 109 signers, she told the police officers and Town Board. She also suggested St. Mary’s Road be posted to ban all truck traffic.

Data from other Island roads has been collected. The study also looks at causes of accidents on several roads over the past 20 years, excluding those that occurred in parking lots. On St. Mary’s Road there were three involving a vehicle and bicycle and one involving driving while intoxicated. Ram Island Drive saw 22 accidents, three were DWIs, five involved speeding and two involved drivers who left the scene of accidents. Bateman Road saw a total of five motor vehicle accidents.

The survey also determined that speed limits should be established only where an engineering study indicates they are justified and realistic. Posted speed limits have little effect on drivers’ speeds, according to the report compiled by the Police Department. At the same time, posting realistic speed limits provides a sound basis for enforcement for those who drive at unreasonable speeds.

The study concludes with several actions that police have concluded can be effective in reducing accidents:

• Increase targeted enforcement areas.

• Educate drivers about traffic safety.

• Regulate speeds if appropriate.

• Consider signs, markings and road improvements.

• Continue gathering data.