Exploring a Bayport Controversy: Middle Road Stop Signs

Controversy abounds over the installation of the stop signs on Middle Road in Bayport. Residents, both pro and con, have lined up to weigh in on the subject.

"The (stop) signs are not just slowing cars down, they're bringing courtesy back to the road," said Noel Feustel, head of the Bayport Safety Committee. "People can get out of their driveways without getting run over."

Hank Brinkmann, who would like to see the signs removed and a different traffic safety measure installed, said "Middle Road is a through street, but it is no longer used as that because of the signs. Now there's a lot more traffic on Montauk Highway." He went on to explain how the signs may be causing more harm than good, "Since the stop signs have been erected there have been at least two accidents."

In 2009, Bayport residents united to seek a solution to the speeding problem on Middle Road. Throughout the course of the last couple of years, several concerned residents took the lead in the effort by forming the Bayport Safety Committee, an organization with a specific purpose of solving the speeding issue on the bucolic county road that has a speed limit of 30 miles-per-hour.

In the last two years, multiple community forums and meetings with Islip Town and Suffolk County officials were held to address the issue. Some residents even refer to this stretch of road that runs east and west between Sayville and Patchogue as the "Middle Road Raceway."

In April, stop signs were installed at six intersections on a one-mile stretch of Middle Road. There are four-way stops for each of the intersections where signs were installed, in addition to "stop ahead" picture signs and "stop ahead" warnings painted on the road. 

To those involved with the Bayport Safety Committee, the installation of these stop signs led to the fulfillment of the organization's original mission: to create a safer road for children, bicyclists, motorists and pedestrians. 

Tony Daidone, who has lived in Bayport for 15 years, agreed that the signs are a blessing. "I love them, they've improved the quality of life," he said, "I have a daughter who is about to start driving, so this is a wonderful thing to slow traffic down."

Countless other Bayport residents provided positive feedback about the signs. "We welcome them, they're great for our kids and the community," said Annamarie O'Brien, who has lived in Bayport for seven years. 

All three of Roberta Zoller's children wrote handwritten letters to Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, explaining why they love the stop signs. "Annie, 6, wrote how she can ride her bike to school, Robby, 8, wrote about crossing Middle Road to Snedecor Avenue to visit his friend, and Billy, 9, wrote about riding his bike up to the ball fields to score baseball games," Zoller said.

Zoller's eldest son received a response letter from Levy, dated June 23. "As Suffolk County Executive, I work hard to keep Suffolk County safe.  I am so happy that the stop signs made a difference in your neighborhood," stated Levy.

It would seem then that all is well on the Bayport front since the installation, however, not everyone is happy with the result of the project.

Other Bayport residents have voiced their disappointment with the signs. Although the opposition has agreed that speeding is a problem on Middle Road, they think stop signs are not the correct way to fix the problem. Numerous people support the original plan that Suffolk County Department of Public Works (DPW) presented.

During a community forum meeting of the Bayport Safety Committee in October '09, DPW chief engineer, Bill Hillman, said that stop signs are not typically considered a traffic calming measure, according to the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) manual.

This statement upset some residents who responded that stop signs appear to be used regularly throughout towns as a way to control traffic speed. But, in order for stop signs to be effective as any traffic safety measure, they must be placed a certain distance apart, Hillman said. 

During the fall '09 meeting, Hillman, along with DPW's director of Traffic Safety, Dan Dresch, proposed a traffic-calming plan for Middle Road that residents were not in favor of due to the time lag, expense and lack of stop signs.

DPW's original plan included bulb-outs at certain locations. Bulb-outs, which are also referred to as neck downs, include the extension of landscaping and curbing along the side of a road to make the road appear narrower, and therefore has the effect of slowing traffic.

Due to time and financial constrictions of the DPW, this project would not have been completed for some time. This was when community members proposed using stop signs as a temporary (and more inexpensive) measure.

Facebook groups dedicated to the removal of the stop signs were created a few months ago. Hank Brinkmann, of Brinkmann Hardware, even wrote up a petition for the removal of the signs that garnered nearly 1,000 signatures of people in agreement.

At 483 members, the facebook group, "Cut down Middle Road Stop Signs" is the largest of the three facebook groups that were created in opposition to the signs.

The description for another group, titled "I HATE THE STOP SIGNS ON MIDDLE ROAD IN BAYPORT," reads: "The stop signs are so stupid and ugly. I would rather get in an accident then stop every two feet on middle road. I think the police need new ways to create revenue then putting up new traffic signs!"

It has been more than four months since the signs were installed, but Brinkmann said his views remain the same. "Stop signs should have never been involved. They're not a speeding control device and are not an effective method," he said, "I think the Bayport community deserves the correct method to fix the problem, whether it's a bulb out, or something else."

Brinkmann also addressed the environmental impact of the signs, as the stopping and starting of cars may create more pollution, in addition to the noise disturbance of engines. The amount of aesthetic changes to the road are also a matter of concern, as each of the intersections where stop signs were installed are preceded with "Stop Ahead" signs and big, white letters written on the road warning of the stop.

Despite the backlash the signs have received, Feustel still thinks the stop signs were the correct fix, for now. "This is the most beneficial quality of life improvement for this community in probably 40 years," he said.

Check back soon for our police report on Middle Road car accidents before and after the installation of the signs, and the county's plans for additional measures, such as bulb-outs.

To hear more about the controversy from Bayport Safety Committee's point-of-view, please watch the video.

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