Of all the concerns that residents voice to my office, those involving traffic and road
safety are usually the ones we receive most frequently. Unsurprisingly, the vast majority
of the issues reported concern our state roads, which see the highest amounts of traffic.
While these roads are not under the purview of the town, there is no question that they
have a significant impact on the quality of life and safety of many Clarkstown residents.
After years of lobbying and advocating for a safety study on Routes 303 and 304, I am
pleased to announce that one is finally underway.
The Safety and Sustainability Study For The Route 303 and 304 Corridors is a joint
collaboration involving the Town of Clarkstown and the County of Rockland, which
secured the majority of the funding through the New York Metropolitan Transportation
Council (NYMTC). The study began to take shape earlier this year and seeks to
address safety issues including speeding, accidents, and fatalities. The study is now in
the active phase of collecting data and assessing existing conditions, traffic patterns,
crash data, and land uses.
You have probably noticed sensor wires across the pavement or cameras in several key
areas on these routes. These devices are one of the tools being used to gather
information for this study. Numbers and metrics are vital, but they can only paint a
portion of the overall picture. For this study to be truly effective, input is needed from our
residents who live on or near these roads and from those who drive along them on a
daily basis.
With this in mind, the study includes numerous ways for our residents to get involved. A
link to everything you need to know about the study can be found on the town’s website,
where you can find multiple ways to contribute. Residents can take a brief survey which will provide data on how they use the roads, how frequently, and what issues they have witnessed. The website also contains an interactive map where residents can drop a pin at a specific location and provide written details with suggestions or concerns. For those who prefer to provide input in person, public workshops are being held to allow for direct interaction with the study’s organizers. The first workshop was held just last week and had over 50 people in attendance. At least two more public workshops will be scheduled as the study progresses and these can be attended virtually. Mailers are sent out to
residents who live on and directly adjacent to these corridors advising them of the
meetings, but the general public is also welcome to attend. The study’s official website
address is: www.routes303and304study.mysocialpinpoint.com
I hope our residents take full advantage of this rare opportunity to provide actionable
input directly to NYS by participating in this study either in person or online. This
important study will continue through the summer of 2025, so there’s plenty of time and
opportunity to participate. And in closing, I would be remiss if I did not personally thank
our former New York State Assemblyman, Ken Zebrowski, for all the time and effort he
put in to help secure the funding for this study.
So please, visit the website or attend a workshop. Your input is an essential part of
helping to shape the future of these two roadways that affect many of our daily lives.
