Saturday, May 15, 2021

22 TRAFFIC LIGHTS - CROTON POINT AVENUE, GAZETTE LETTER

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22 Traffic Lights! 

The following letter was published in this week’s issue of the Gazette.

To the editor: The entrance to our Croton train station now has 22 traffic lights. That is more than the entrance to Grand Central Station, and when those 22 lights are activated it will be a spectacular show at night, drawing visitors from far and wide. Synchronized lights were one of three components of this four million dollar project. The other two were the bike lane and the sidewalk on the south side of the street.

Croton taxpayers may feel that we spent too much money on this project. I disagree, and I think we should spend a bit more.

For many decades, the sidewalk on the north side of Croton Point Avenue has accommodated the handful of commuters who walk to the train station. That sidewalk was fine for that use, since pedestrians could take a leisurely stroll up to Harmon on an empty or nearly empty sidewalk.

Lack of a sidewalk on the south side meant that tourists arriving at the train station and walking to the ShopRite would have to cross the street, walk on the north sidewalk, and then cross the street again. After a long trip up from Manhattan or the Bronx, visitors to the Croton shopping mall were deterred by having to cross the street and walk on the existing sidewalk. That problem is now solved, at no small expense to taxpayers. READ MORE HERE.

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Please note: For those residents who have commented with some concern--as has your editor---that the now narrow lanes to accommodate bike lanes/sidewalks present somewhat dangerous conditions when larger trucks and even larger cars turn onto/off Croton Point Avenue/South Riverside--in either direction---these concerns and questions must be directed to village staff and village officials. 

Please note: As of 5/10 and due to one of the lights, the Bee-Line bus stop had to be eliminated  https://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2021/05/efective-510-croton-point-avenue-bus.html 

Please note: Lights remain inoperable, i.e. not yet turned on.

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