Use of Rumble Strips on Rockaway Avenue Getting Mixed Reviews

Though some residents believe more steps should be taken to address the dangers of the Merillon Avenue/Rockaway Avenue intersection near Garden City High School, the Traffic Commission agreed to install flashing warning signs on the north and south sides of Rockaway for the time being to slow traffic down.

Rockaway Avenue is a county-owned road. Police commissioner Kenneth Jackson, however, said advisory signs such as ones with flashing yellow lights, do not need approval like regulatory signs do.

"They have been approved and are now being ordered by [Department of Public Works]," he told Patch.

The village board unanimously authorized DPW director Robert Mangan to request that the county study a possible reconfiguration of the intersection, which could include a traffic light.

The request for rumble strips, however, was deferred after some debate amongst trustees. It was decided that the board would first consult a AAA engineer to learn, if any, the effects of rumble strips.

Some consider rumble strips to be a cost-effective road safety feature that could warn drivers of a stop ahead or nearby danger spot. Trustee Nick Episcopia, who sits on the Traffic Commission, believes they would slow traffic down.

Trustee Laurence Quinn, however, wasn't too keen on possibly being the first municipality in Nassau County to use them. Mayor Don Brudie added he was afraid a request for rumble strips could spread to the entire village.

Episcopia thought this particular location was somewhat "unique" because of the curved road was approaching a school. "This is an issue we face with all we do," he told the mayor. "There's always the risk someone else will jump up and say we need this too."

Episcopia recently traveled to Ronkonkoma with Commissioner Jackson to see the effectiveness of rumble strips on a similar road approaching a school.

"The type of rumble strips we would consider are of plastic nature and would be put more or less on top of the road. I went to Ronkonkoma where Mr. Jackson rode over them. I stayed there on the curb when traffic went by ... If you're on the curb you can hear it. If you're I would say more than 15, 20 feet away, if you're in a house you'll never hear it, if you're in a school you'll never hear it, especially if they are put on the south side," Episcopia said. "They would be put most likely by the bleachers or before you get to the bleachers so they'd be nowhere near the school so these people saying the rumble strips are going to disturb the school are clearly wrong."

Heading north on Rockaway Episcopia said they could be placed right after the golf club property ends. "There is a large open space there," he said. "I doubt very, very seriously anyone's going to hear it. I drove over these and it has no effect on your driving ... I don't think it's a bad idea."

Rockaway Avenue resident Michael Pisani, who lives directly across the street from the high school's new music hall, for months has been fighting for better safeguards. "It's a possible remedy but it does have its downsides," he said of the strips.

Pisani told trustees that those in attendance at a PTA meeting Tuesday unanimously agreed rumble strips were not the way to go, citing noise issues.

"On Tuesday morning I received an email from Mrs. McLaughlin, the principal of Garden City High School, alerting me to the fact that they were having a PTA meeting that morning," Pisani said. "Several of our residents attended. During that meeting it became a unanimous opinion of everyone there, including the principal, that they did not want rumble strips on the street as a remedy for the speeding ... They felt it was exceedingly noisy and they didn't wish to do so."

He said an email McLaughlin sent him stated that she was in contact with the county executive's office as to the procedure for obtaining a crosswalk, Stop sign and a traffic light on Rockaway Avenue.

Principal McLaughlin, however, told Patch Friday that there was "no unanimous decision about rumble strips at Tuesday's PTA meeting."

"The majority of the group felt that rumble strips would not solve the problem and two parents said the strips might be very loud," she said Friday via email. "The only unanimous decision was that some action must be taken to address the concerns."

McLaughlin believes the decision to consult with a AAA engineer is an "extremely wise one."

"I am pleased that this serious issue is under consideration and hope that a remedy is presented/implemented soon as I am very concerned about the safety of my students," she added.