Levittowners may see work beginning on Hempstead Turnpike in the spring of 2000, according to New York State Assemblywoman Kathleen Murray.

Both Murray and State Senator Kemp Hannon have expressed a desire to do something to beautify the three mile stretch of Hempstead Turnpike that runs through Levittown. Because the turnpike is a state road, the effort begins with state legislators but that does not mean that the town and county won't also play a role.

The effort to revitalize Hempstead Turnpike, which is, in essence, the Úquot;downtownÚquot; of Levittown, is going to be a joint effort between the state, the Department of Transportation, Nassau County, the Town of Hempstead, and community organizations.

Gary Hudes, a Levittown resident, and president of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce is the coordinator of a committee working on the Revitalization project. Members of the committee include Murray, Assemblyman Marc Herbst, Assemblywoman Donna Ferrara, Nassau County Legislator and Levittown resident Dennis Dunne, and Levittown School District resident Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Linda Reed.

The Revitalization Committee recently met with Craig Siracusa, who is the regional director of the Department of Transportation. The Department of Transportation is a key element in these plans because without their approval no work on the medians and roadways can be done. Murray said that she is expecting to receive preliminary plans from the Department of Transportation within the next couple of weeks. The DOT will give the committee the parameters of what can be done.

The DOT is concerned with safety and the sight line in the median so they will be working with their own landscapers to find the appropriate greenery for the median, which will look nice, not interfere with the sight line, and will be able to survive in the median, which is a hostile environment for plant life.

The greenery that is chosen must be salt resistant, be able to stand up to the wind as cars whip by, and not grow too quickly. The committee has said that they would like to have greenery in the median rather than the brick work that was done in East Meadow but it is the DOT that will have the ultimate say about what will be appropriate for this area.

Although the Department of Transportation may draw up preliminary plans for the median work, final plans cannot be approved until the committee finds corporate sponsors, for the Adopt-A-Highway program. Each corporate sponsor would be responsible for the upkeep of approximately one mile of the median. The committee cannot begin to look for corporate sponsors until they get the preliminary plans because at this point, according to Murray, they have no idea what the upkeep of the median will cost.

Hudes, who has many business contacts, will be heading up the search for corporate sponsors. Murray stated, Úquot;It is a very, very big job. It is a necessary and absolutely vital component before the DOT will undertake this project so I want to caution that it is not a done deal until we get the corporate sponsors.Úquot;

Once the plans are completed and corporate sponsorship for the Adopt-A-Highway program is gotten, the bids for the project can go out. The bidding process begins in June and goes until August. If the plans for the Hempstead Turnpike revitalization are completed by then they can go out to bid at that time. If they go out to bid this summer, the work, according to Murray, would most likely begin the following spring. Úquot;The winter months is not the time you do construction,Úquot; said Murray. Úquot;So by necessity, weatherwise these types of projects usually commence in the spring so I'm hopeful that, as everything falls into place, the bidding will go out, we'll get our corporate sponsors, and the actual groundbreaking for the project itself may be spring 2000.Úquot;

While the work on the median is a large portion of the revitalization and beautification effort, the project does not end there. Murray stated that Town of Hempstead Supervisor Richard Guardino was very interested in the economical development within this area of the Town of Hempstead and is very interested in seeing greenery along the sides. The Town of Hempstead is in charge of the side-service roads and hopes to tie the work on those areas in with the work on the median.

Murray stated, Úquot;Supervisor Guardino and Linda Reed were very interested in trying to tailor a beautification project, within the Town of Hempstead, to go right along with the state so I know that there is going to be a very cooperative relationship between the state and the town with regard to this project, which is great.Úquot; She added, Úquot;It will be the most effective, cost-effective way to do it because if the roads are being ripped up, it is the time to plant things, not only in the median but around.Úquot; Murray said she fully anticipates that the town will be revealing its own beautification project to go right along with the state's project.

Last year Murray and Hannon garnered a $25,000 grant for the Levittown Chamber of Commerce to put in wooden signs and plantings, welcoming people to Levittown. Once the roadwork is completed those signs will be erected.

While the plans have not been officially approved as of yet, Murray stated, Úquot;I'm hopeful. My sense from the DOT was that this is doable.Úquot; She said that earlier on Siracusa had several questions concerns about this project but at the last meeting those questions and concerns were far fewer. She added, Úquot;I'm thrilled. Coming out of that last meeting I was very, very delighted with the tone and tenor of the Department of Transportation and certainly the town has always been right with me, as anxious as I am and Senator Hannon and Donna Ferrara and Marc Herbst, and Dennis Dunne all desire to see this project completed and I took away from the last meeting that the DOT is very much on board with this as well.Úquot;

Murray concluded, Úquot;This project is to everyone's benefit. It's a good project and good projects eventually get done.Úquot;