The East Hampton Town Board heard from several supportive Wainscott residents last Thursday when it held public hearings on the addition of stop signs at certain intersections, and a prohibition on parking, on the east side of Town Line Road.
The road divides the town’s westernmost hamlet from Sagaponack Village, with its eastern half under the town’s jurisdiction. Consequently, the town board is considering the addition of stop signs on the east side of the road at its intersections with Daniel’s Lane, Hedges Lane, Parsonage Lane, and Wainscott Main Street. The Wainscott Citizens Advisory Committee discussed the proposal last month.
An 11-year-old boy was killed in June on Town Line while riding his bicycle. A stop sign would not have prevented his death, but residents who spoke last Thursday cited the danger posed by more and more cars going ever faster.
The hearing on stop signs was combined with another to consider a prohibition on parking on the east side of Town Line Road and at its southern terminus, where residents have complained about traffic congestion.
“Things have changed,” said Liz Hedges, who lives on the road. “With the increased traffic congestion and increased speed of the traffic in our community, little things, hopefully, can make a difference. It may be stop signs.”
“We have for many years seen traffic increase and speed increase on these roads, with a concern for safety for the public, as well as for the vehicles,” agreed Jose Arandia.
Carolyn Logan Gluck, who is chairwoman of the Wainscott Citizens Advisory Committee, read a letter the committee had sent to the board. While the committee “is pleased to see the town is addressing this important subject without delay,” she said, it recommends three stop signs on Town Line Road, not four. “A stop sign at the Hedges Lane intersection may not be necessary as this is so close to Main Street,” she said.
Four others spoke in favor of the proposals, among them Michael Hansen, who asked that the board also consider raised medians, which he said have been demonstrated to slow traffic down. He also asked the board to be mindful that “this traffic issue is not limited to the summer season.”
East Hampton should coordinate with Southampton Town to establish a three-way stop at each of the committee’s three recommended intersections, Ms. Logan Gluck said, “and I understand you’re in the process of doing so.”
Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc later confirmed that he had met with Mayor William Tillotson of Sagaponack in July to coordinate their efforts. “We recognize the fact that we share that road with Sagaponack Village,” he said. “They’re the municipality with authority on the west side of the road. We’re very happy it’s been a very cooperative and productive exchange.”
Regarding the terminus of Town Line Road, at the ocean beach, Susan Macy encouraged the board to act on alleviating congestion there. “During the summer, the end of the road is littered with bicycles, shoes, wagons, and people going to and from the beach,” she said. “The area is narrow, and very difficult to navigate because currently there is no place to turn around except for residents’ driveways. . . . Each year I notice not only more traffic from beachgoers, maintenance trucks, and people using it as an alternative to Route 27, but also the speed at which they go. If you add in bicyclists and pedestrians, it’s a recipe for disaster. I believe these two measures will help to keep everyone safer, and I encourage you to vote to implement them.”
