(Long Island, NY) The Suffolk County Legislature at its June 2 General Meeting amended the 2016 to 2018 proposed capital budget to restore $4 million in 2016 to fund the reconfiguration of the Riverside traffic circle to a two-lane oval roundabout. The funding had been delayed until 2018 in County Executive Steve Bellone’s proposed capital budget.
The Riverside circle is frequently backed up with traffic and it is expected to worsen in the future as traffic volume increases. The Riverside community rallied in favor of restoring the money along with many community leaders including Legislator Jay Schneiderman, Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, and Southampton Town Council members Bridget Fleming, Brad Bender and Christine Scalera.
Legislator Schneiderman thanked all of those who fought for the restoration. Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst and Councilman Brad Bender made a special trip on Tuesday with members of the Riverside Community to speak in support of restoring the funding for the circle at the legislature’s general meeting.
“Without all of the community support, this project could have been derailed for years,” said Legislator Schneiderman.
The reconfiguration of the traffic circle is seen as a vital first step in revitalizing the blighted Riverside community.
“Riverside is the most economically stressed community on Long Island,” said Legislator Schneiderman. “I would like to thank all of the community leaders for their willingness to come speak in front of the legislature to state Riverside’s case.”
The Riverside Traffic Circle will be transformed into a two lane oval roundabout with sidewalks and crosswalks. This reconfiguration will improve pedestrian safety, traffic flow and drainage in the area. The reconfiguration of the traffic circle will be a major step in this community’s revitalization.
“I look forward to working together with the Town of Southampton to make sure that we can advance the Riverside Traffic Circle in 2016,” stated County Executive Bellone. “We will review manpower in the Suffolk County Department of Public Works to make sure that we are able to move this project forward.”
Representing the South Fork, Deputy Presiding Officer Jay Schneiderman is the Suffolk County Legislator for the Second Legislative District. For more information, or to arrange an interview, please call (631) 852-8400.
