Back in November 2001, residents collectively urged village trustees to recommend that the Village Traffic Commission probe the Franklin Avenue/Fourth Street intersection, particularly in light of a car accident that claimed the life of a 10-year-old fifth-grader at St. Joseph's. With more than 900 students participating in the religious education program and after-school activities at St. Joseph's School, residents felt the area bore further scrutiny.

In light of yet another pedestrian struck at the intersection April 30, residents again came before the village board asking for their help in expediting the installation process. St. Joseph School's PTA president told trustees of a writing campaign and urged them to send letters to the powers that be at Bookspan, which is responsible for the light's installation. "We don't want another child to lose his/her life there," she said.

Trustee John Mauk agreed. "The fact that this has been allowed to drag on is unconscionable," he said. Fellow trustee, Jon Segerdahl, added, "It would be a great disappointment in this village if that light is not up come this September." Segerdahl also urged his fellow trustees to write letters to Bookspan and said St. Joseph School should follow-up with their own letters, as well as any residents who feel they've waited long enough.

The Nassau County Department of Public Works, under the authority of County Executive Tom Suozzi, studied the intersection and found that a traffic signal was in fact warranted. The determination also specified that, due to various access points to the site, the developer of the Bookspan site was responsible for the design and construction of the traffic signal.

Robert Mangan, Garden City's director of public works, said he was advised May 5 that any and all issues (that have caused delay in the light's installation) have been resolved. "Bookspan must hire someone to put the light in," he said. When installation of the signal is completed in accordance with Nassau County standards, the county will then accept ownership and maintenance of the traffic signal.

It's important to note that arrows painted on Fourth Street prohibit vehicles exiting Bookspan to travel down the residential block. Any cars leaving the facility must travel either north or south on Franklin Avenue.