Apr. 9, 2014:  The Bronxville Board of Trustees at its April 7, 2014, meeting among other things focused on the state-funded flood mitigation project on Garden Avenue necessitated by water drainage problems on that road.

In order to accommodate the project, two measures are being considered. One is to eliminate parking spaces in the section of the Garden Avenue parking lot located closest to Garden Avenue. The other, proposed by Deputy Treasurer Peggy Conway, is to modify the village's traffic and vehicle law to designate Garden Avenue a one-way street. The street would run one way in a southeast direction from Pondfield Road downhill to Tanglewylde Avenue for the estimated three-month duration of the project.

Conway stated that, although the state has not indicated a definite start date for the project, construction could begin in June.

When questioned about the proposed southeast direction for Garden Avenue, Conway explained that the rationale rests on the location of the entrance to the Garden Avenue lot. "It is located closer to Pondfield Avenue and it is easier to make a right-hand turn into the parking lot coming downhill from Pondfield," she said.

Bronxville Police Chief Christopher Satriale, when asked to comment on enforcement issues surrounding the proposed one-way street, suggested performing a traffic count before the flood mitigation project begins to determine which direction on Garden Avenue experiences the heaviest use.

While the designation of Garden Avenue as a one-way street could end upon the completion of the flood mitigation project, Conway noted that the village is considering leaving it in place until January of 2016 to coincide with construction of the Kensington Road project, since 179 parking spaces will be unavailable during the construction period. Those spaces could be temporarily relocated to Garden Avenue opposite the lot, and access to them would be easier going downhill from Pondfield.

Of particular concern to neighborhood residents are safety and traffic flow issues should the street remain a one-way thoroughfare for the better part of two years. Garden Avenue resident Maryann Pope called for a traffic study to assess the effects the proposed change would have on Tanglewylde Avenue and Pondfield Road with regard to access to the Bronxville train station and drop-off and pickup at The Bronxville School.

"Has the village considered what happens to the rest of the traffic when UPS, FedEx, or any other large truck needs to stop to make a delivery, blocking the only through lane?" Pope asked. "The street is narrow and cars will not be able to navigate around large trucks."

Ruth Wood, of Garden Avenue, expressed concerns that emergency vehicles, which often use the street to avoid congestion and traffic lights on Pondfield, will be impeded by the proposed one-way designation. "I don't know if you have considered what happens to that person in the ambulance when they try to make it through several lights on Pondfield Road in an emergency," she said.

Pope and Wood both noted that, during the winter, the village uses the side of Garden Avenue earmarked for parking during the Kensington Road project construction to pile snow.

The board of trustees delayed voting on that portion of the traffic and vehicle law pertaining to Garden Avenue until it can answer residents' concerns and questions.

The board will meet on Monday, May 12, at 8:00 pm in the trustees room at Bronxville Village Hall.

Pictured here:  The Garden Avenue parking lot.

Photo by staff