Department Of Transportation reviews plans for Jericho Turnpike upgrade

Richard Tedesco

Final revisions of the New Hyde Park Village Board’s plans to upgrade Jericho Turnpike next spring are currently being reviewed by the state Department of Transportation.

At Tuesday night’s village board meeting, Village of New Hyde Park Trustee Donald Barbieri said the plans had been “tweaked” based on comments from the DOT from its initial review of plans. He did not offer a timetable for receiving final approval of the plans from the DOT.

“It’s in the hands of the DOT,” he said.

Asked whether he expected the spring time frame originally projected for the upgrade to remain unchanged, he said, “We hope so.”

The first phase of what is the final stage of the beautification and upgrade of the New Hyde Park business district along Jericho will be the DOT’s planned installation of countdown crossing signals for pedestrians and resurfacing of the village’s main thoroughfare, according to Barbieri. Jericho Turpike is to be resurfaced from the Queens County line to the Mineola border.

Baribieri has said the project is intended to improve pedestrian and traffic safety along Jericho Turnpike, consistent with standards set in state legislation sponsored by state Sen. Charles Fuschillo (R-Merrick) for “complete street design policy” to provide for safe access for pedestrians and motorists.

Planned aesthetic improvements to the business district on Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park intended to make the area more pedestrian friendly for shopers.

Plans designed by Saratoga Associates include bulb-outs – rounded corners that would extend slightly into the roadway – to be added at locations yet to be determined, along with installation of solid medians with plantings and access to water sources to maintain the plantings.

Benches will also be installed on sidewalks, which would be paved with the same rustic red brickwork already in place in some sections near the intersection of Jericho Turnpike and Lakeville Road.

Several engineering firms have been interviewed for the project, but the village board has not yet revealed which company will be doing the work. Work on the project, including the road resurfacing, is expected to take four or five months to complete.

The project is being funded through a federal transportation appropriation of $1.425 million secured by U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy and community block grant funds, according to Barbieri.

In other developments:

• Trustee Richard Coppola said the New Hyde Park Lions Club is selling Christmas trees in a lot on Jericho Turnpike across from New Hyde Park Village Hall.

• The Greater New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce will hold its Christmas party at Gino’s Pizzeria & Restaurant on Jericho Turnpike on Dec. 16. “Piano man” Pat Farrell, former village clerk of New Hyde Park, will provide musical entertainment at the event.

• Barbieri said that The Children’s Theatre of New Hyde Park’s production of “The One & Only Santa Claus” on Saturday and Sunday is virtually sold out, with only six tickets remaining for the 11 a.m. performance on Saturday. That performance was added to matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday due to popular demand. The Christmas play features 20 local children in the cast.

Reach reporter Richard Tedesco by e-mail at rtedesco@theislandnow.comor by phone at 516.307.1045 x204

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