(The following letter is reprinted at the request of Nassau County Legislator Richard Nicolello, the writer.)

Mr. Raymond A. Ribeiro, Commissioner

Nassau County Department of Public Works

1194 Prospect Avenue

Westbury, NY 11590

Dear Commissioner Ribeiro:

In May of 2006, I requested that the Department of Public Works conduct a traffic study for Lakeville Road at the new Hillside Public Library facility. As I stated at that time, the property is located at 155 Lakeville Road in New Hyde Park. The new library and meeting facilities are located on the west side of Lakeville. The parking lot for this facility is located on the east side of Lakeville. The obvious concern was that visitors to this public facility, including many children and seniors, would have to cross a heavily traveled county roadway to get to the library. It is apparent that no study was ever performed, nor was I informed of any recommended actions to make the area safer. The library recently opened its doors to the public.

On March 6, 2007, representatives of the county met with community leaders including representatives of the school district, library and village at the new facility. Harold Lutz and Raymond Stefanowicz were present to represent the county. We stood on the second floor of the library and watched as every person who parked in the parking lot walked directly across the street. We watched as parents restrained anxious children on the side of the road as the heavy traffic sped by. While we were there, the NHP Fire Department answered a false alarm at the library. Even with a fire truck blocking their path, people continued to walk around the truck and across the street rather than walk to the corner.

The reality here is that no one who parks in the parking lot is going to walk north to the intersection of Lowell Avenue and Lakeville Road. With the numbers of children and seniors crossing the street from the parking lot combined with the heavy traffic on Lakeville, this is an immediate public safety issue.

The participants at the meeting suggested numerous possible solutions to the county representatives. The representatives turned down almost everything suggested (I understand that they were merely stating the policy of the department).

In my opinion, the only realistic solution to this problem is the installation of a traffic signal at the location. I ask that you reconsider your department's position due to the urgency of the public safety issues here. If you are interested in seeing how urgent this problem is, I invite you to come to the library on a weekday at about 4 p.m.

Please know that if this request is turned down, I will do whatever I can to include it in next year's capital budget.

In the meantime, I would appreciate if you would advise when the pedestrian crossing signs will be installed. I would also appreciate if you would provide to me a copy of the law or regulation that prohibits the installation of a traffic light on a county road at a driveway owned by another government.

Thank you for your consideration of the above.

Richard J. Nicolello

County Legislator, 9th L.D.