After years of petitions and calls from local residents to make Route 9 in Sleepy Hollow a safer corridor, the state has finally responded.
"They said it is hazardous," said Village Administrator Anthony Giaccio. "They are aware it is a problem."
However, if the amount of time it took the state to provide a response is any indication, changes won't be coming soon.
In a letter to the Village of Sleepy Hollow, the New York State Department of Transportation acting regional director for District 8, William Gorton, said the DOT had conducted a study on the road at the request of the Village and Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
The study spanned from Lawrence Avenue to Phelps Memorial Hospital and included a review of accident history and an assessment on the nature of the span.
"It is NYSDOT's determination that reducing the number of travel lanes on Route 9 from four lanes to three lanes between Pierson Avenue and Phelps Lane would have operational and safety benefits," Gorton wrote.
The third lane would be a turning lane that could also be used by climbing trucks, he said.
However, the report disputed in the Manors on the number of accidents that have occurred on Route 9. The report found the accident history along the stretch did not warrant immediate action on lane adjustments.
Instead, Gorton said, the reconfiguration would occur during the next resurfacing of the span, which could be years away, and is not scheduled.
However, three other intersections could get attention more quickly: Pierson and Route 9; Beekman and Route 9; and Pocantico and Route 9.
Although Gorton said there was no history of pedestrian/vehicle accidents at Route 9 and Pierson, he noted that the span would receive a cross walk sometime in the future.
Sleepy Hollow Police Chief Gregory Camp said the state was also looking at a traffic light malfunction at Route 9 and Pocantico, which gives too much time to the parking lot coming out of Philipsburg Manor.
Another troublesome intersection is the six-way choke point of Beekman Avenue and Route 9. This intersection was a point of concern for the Sleepy Hollow Police Advisory Committee, which for the state to assess the intersection.
According to Camp, the DOT believes there is a light timing problem, especially for traffic attempting to turn left from Beekman Avenue to proceed north on Route 9.
"The sequence of the lights will be addressed to help clear that intersection out," Camp said.
But he also noted that state was noncommittal on when the changes to traffic lights would occur.
"They recognize it is a problem, and they are putting us on a list," he said.
