By Carol Bartold, Senior Reporter

Oct. 23, 2019: Pedestrian safety and a slowing of traffic speed are the primary goals of the village’s re-designed intersection at Midland Avenue, Masterton Road, and Crow’s Nest Road. At the Bronxville Board of Trustees meeting on October 15, Village Administrator Jim Palmer noted that the improvements installed to date are only temporary, while configurations of the intersection’s open space and the most effective safety solutions are examined and tested.

Palmer stated that planners recommended a reconfigured intersection of the three streets as part of the 2019 Village Comprehensive Plan. He added that the work was expedited when a driver under the influence of alcohol collided with the traffic signal standard, knocked it down and destroyed it. Relocation of the crosswalk on Midland is a key factor in the new design, but sidewalks, new striping, malleable curving, and rectangular rapid flashing beacons to alert motorists of pedestrians also comprise the new design.

Palmer explained that pedestrians walking down Masterton Road on the easterly side had to cross that street into clear open space as drivers were coming down the hill. Then they had to cross Midland Avenue. Pedestrians walking toward Midland Avenue on Crow’s Nest Road to cross Midland also had to cross Masterton Road to access the crosswalk. A stop sign on Crow’s Nest Road had been positioned up the hill so that motorists had more time to gain speed as they came down the hill, jeopardized pedestrian safety.

“The wider you make the roads, the faster people will drive,” Palmer stated. “We have a lot of traffic and a lot of pedestrians on Midland Avenue. We will channel the cars.” He added that a slowing of vehicles has already been observed with the temporary configuration.

Palmer said that the village plans to install more greenery at the intersection and reduce the width of traffic lanes so that vehicles stop at the correct spot, and be forced to reduce speed on Masterton Road and as they make the turn to drive up the hill. A speed beacon device has been installed on Masterton Road to displays a driver’s speed. “It does seem to slow people down when it informs them that they’re speeding,” he said.

At present, the village is testing the size of the turns at Crow’s Nest Road and Masterton Road to ensure they will accommodate fire trucks.

“This is a work in progress,” Palmer emphasized. “The improvements to striping and the addition of bollards are not the most attractive, but they’re only temporary.” He noted that overall, the comments he has received to date are positive and that the village is engaging in outreach with the neighbors in the area of the intersection.

In business before the board, the trustees authorized $910,000 in funding for Phase I of the new Department of Public Works (DPW) facility. Phase I of the project, on the west side of Palumbo Place, includes demolition of the current salt storage shed, and construction of a new shed as well as a new parking lot.

A quorum allowing the board to approve a resolution to authorize the issuance of debt service for Phase I construction could not be reached. Trustee Randy Mayer recused himself from the vote because of his professional association with the municipal bond issuer likely to issue the bonds. The absence of two trustees from the meeting plus Mayer’s recusal left only two voting members present.

Phase II of the project comprises the construction of a new 9,500 square foot DPW building that will include six vehicle bays for fleet storage, a truck washing bay, a mezzanine level that will house a new office for the DPW foreman, lockers, and kitchen facilities for employees.

Palmer described the DPW project as one “that has been in the works probably for a good five years and is an effort to maximize the existing use of the DPW facility on the east end of our property.”

The Bronxville Board of Trustees will meet on Tuesday, November 12, at 8 pm in the Trustees Room at Village Hall.

Pictured:  Bronxville Board of Trustees

Photo by A. Warner