A citizen petition drive calling for a stoplight outside the Farmingdale Public Library has convinced the county to pursue a traffic study at the site.

According to Seymore Weinstein, a concerned resident who initiated the petition drive after having a near-accident at the location, library patrons responded enthusiastically to his appeal.

"When I got signatures, probably 98 percent of the people I approached signed....they were signing so fast that you had to have two clipboards," he said. "It came over loud and strong that people just desperately want a light there."

Weinstein collected over 500 signatures, and in response, Nassau County Legislator Salvatore Pontillo requested that the county conduct a traffic survey to evaluate the usefulness of installing a light at the location.

"I would like to see a light there provided it would solve problems rather than create problems," Pontillo said. He noted that there are already signals at the Merritts/Hempstead Turnpike and Merrits/Beverly Road intersections, and that placing one in between them could encourage motorists to speed through one light to catch another. However, he added that the study would give a clearer picture of whether a light would help or hurt the situation.

A traffic study was conducted after the library was opened in 1994, and according to Joseph Pecora, director of traffic engineering for Nassau County, it concluded that there was not enough traffic flow to deem a light necessary. "I remember, looking at it. And, the signal at Hempstead Turnpike would provide a lot of gaps on the Main Road, so that you could pretty much move freely in and out of that library," he said. "And I don't know whether or not things have changed as the library has progressed. But that's something that we'll take a look at."

Dina Chrils, director of the library, said that the library has long wanted a light at the location, because patrons are confronted with cars speeding down Merritts Road as they try to exit the library. "The traffic coming out of here is horrific. It's scary," she said.

She noted that she has witnessed at least six fender-benders at the library exit/entrance. "We did have one wind up on the front lawn," she said.

The situation creates a particular hardship for the hundreds of senior citizens who use the community hub for club meetings, and the library's other significant user group - parents who bring their young children to storytime and other activities, according to Weinstein.

"For every accident there is, there're probably 10 near accidents, and these you don't hear about - like mine," added Weinstein, whose vehicle was almost hit by a speeding car when he was making a left out of the library on a recent rainy day. "And you talk to people, and they tell you horror stories."

Pecora noted that the new traffic survey would be completed within about 6 months. Because the library is considered a private establishment, the library would be responsible for the cost of installing a traffic light, which is estimated at about $60-80,000, he added.