HICKSVILLE, NY — Nassau County public works officials have unveiled eight recommendations that they believe will improve traffic and pedestrian safety and accessibility in Hicksville's downtown section, which will ultimately draw more business and make the area more vibrant.
Laura Curran, the county executive, released the new report Wednesday morning, which was developed with input from the Town of Oyster Bay, New York state officials, the Long Island Rail Road and NICE bus officials. Curran's office said the projects will serve as a key link among all ongoing efforts and help make downtown Hicksville both better connected and more economically resilient.
"Championing the development of vibrant, walkable downtown destinations near transit to attract new residents and businesses has been a priority of my Administration since day one, and I am very proud of the progress we've made on this front," Curran said in a statement. "With Hicksville being the largest and one of the most centrally located transportation hubs on Long Island, we cannot drag our feet on realizing the enormous potential for this area."
Broadway Downtown Streetscaping
Streetscape improvements were recommended to make the Broadway corridor from East John Street to Old Country Road a more walkable downtown retail district and encourage development and retail interest. Upgrade sidewalks and crosswalks and make them more accessible to promote pedestrian access from on-street parking, as well as centralized parking areas that already exist.
Bike Routes and Facilities
Downtown Hicksville would benefit from a connected network of bike lanes and bike parking areas to improve access for cyclists to the station and throughout the area. The study recommended adding 1.75 miles of new bike and shared use lanes on parts of Duffy Avenue, Heitz Place, Nelson Avenue and Newbridge Road.
Duffy Avenue & Newbridge Road
This major intersection sits a block south of the main LIRR Station entrance and serves many commuters who drive and walk to work, as well as several bus lines and a high volume of through traffic. Officials recommended using excess space to tighten moving lanes and create dedicated space for cyclists. These measures also ease traffic.
Duffy Avenue Mid-Block Crossing
Create a new signalized or controlled intersection on Duffy Avenue at the exit of the Town parking garage as a solution for the existing crossing condition. Add a signal and crosswalk to provide a safe crossing for hundreds of commuters who cross there to use the walkway to the station.
John Street Improvements
This short block of John Street anchored by two busy intersections would benefit from a reconstruction to simplify parking movements and provide longer left turn lanes on the inner approaches. Where feasible, add measures to shorten pedestrian crossing distances to make the intersection less of a barrier for pedestrians.
Train Station Circulation & Pedestrian Safety Improvements
Officials recommended responding to commuter circulation needs that currently exist at the station. Private drop-off, pedestrian waiting areas, limited lanes surrounding the train station and enlarged pedestrian queue spaces will not only benefit future developments, they are vital for the existing use of the area.
Barclay Triangle & Kennedy Park Expansion
Officials recommended removing a southbound lane on Jerusalem Avenue. Removing the lane would optimize the alignment from Broadway onto Jerusalem and ease traffic as it enters Jerusalem Avenue. Traffic on Jerusalem Avenue is low enough to be reduced to a single lane without causing delays, and the narrower roadway will result in more parking spots while slowing southbound traffic.
"Underline" Connection Under the LIRR Overpass
The strategy behind the "Underline" recommendation is to create a well-illuminated, covered, linear passageway with safer street crossings. With minor expansion in some areas, the linear connection already exists between Broadway and Newbridge Road. Distinctive lighting and context-sensitive pedestrian crossings would help tie the linear spaces together and make it more distinct from the surrounding area.
Next Steps
In the weeks and months ahead, the officials will work to secure potential federal and state grant money for the projects. The eight recommendations were designed so that each could be completed separately as funding becomes available, Curran's office said.
Conceptual recommendations in the report will be studied further in the next phases of the project. Additional public input will be sought before they're implemented.
Reaction Roundup
Nassau County Legislator Arnie Drucker: "At a time when suburban communities continue to evolve and emphasize greater reliance on mass transit and other environmentally-friendly alternatives to cars, I'm proud to join County Executive Curran in recognizing National Car-Free Day in Nassau County. I am hopeful that today's observance will encourage a renewed interest in sustainable solutions that better position us to protect the environment, reduce our reliance on automobiles and place an attainable car-free suburban lifestyle within the reach of more Long Islanders."
Nassau County Legislator Rose Marie Walker: "Hicksville is my hometown and a great community, which I am honored to represent in the legislature. I look forward to working with state and local officials to continue to improve traffic and pedestrian safety, with the goal of revitalizing the downtown area, and making it easily accessible for our residents."
New York State Senator Kevin Thomas: "Car Free Day is an opportunity for us to reimagine how we can better use our streets to connect residents, support local businesses, and enhance our quality of life. I applaud Nassau County Executive Curran on this exciting effort to create a more vibrant downtown Hicksville by making our streets safer, less congested, and more accessible to pedestrians and visitors."
New York State Senator Jim Gaughran: "Walkable, vibrant downtowns are the key to successful revitalizations. New York State's $10 million investment in Hicksville's revitalization is an investment in our small businesses and our local economy. I am thrilled to see Hicksville's revitalization plan advancing forward, particularly at a time when Long Island is experiencing an influx of residents moving to suburbia."
New York State Senator Anna M. Kaplan: "Each year, we observe Car Free Day here on Long Island, and each year it highlights just how far we still must go to provide truly efficient and sustainable mass transit options in our communities. This year, as the LIRR third track expansion project presses forward and nears completion, ultimately bringing more passengers through the Hicksville station, it's more important than ever that we address long-standing problems with the flow of traffic and pedestrians throughout the downtown area so that this community can live up to its full potential. I join County Executive Curran in supporting common-sense revitalization efforts throughout downtown Hicksville that will beautify the downtown, help commuters, and support the growth of our small businesses and restaurants, and I look forward to working together to get it done."
Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino: "Downtown Hicksville will undergo a renaissance as we transform it into a vibrant destination with new housing opportunities, local jobs and open space. Through grant opportunities, we are advancing pedestrian safety improvements and beautification initiatives, and will continue with projects that support increased access to transportation and improve walkability. We will continue to transform Hicksville into a vibrant downtown for downsizers, empty nesters, senior citizens and millennials alike."
Long Island Builders Institute CEO Mitchell Pally: "The movement of development on Long Island to now include pedestrian friendly mixed-use development in our downtown areas is one of the most important initiatives taking place in our community. We strongly support these new initiatives on the part of Nassau County and the town of Oyster Bay to reduce our need for our automobiles and we look forward to redeveloping new properties all across Nassau County to implement these new transportation findings."
Association for a Better Long Island Executive Director Kyle Strober: "Hicksville has been a vital economic anchor for generations, constantly evolving to meet the shifting demands of the economy, population trends, mass transit benefits, and consumer preferences. Continuing that evolution by addressing improvements to pedestrian mobility will significantly assist Hicksville in fulfilling its 21st Century potential and reflects the type of innovative strategies that will allow our region to recover from the aftershocks of the pandemic impacting our society."