Option 4 includes the reconstruction of A Street from Main to Colville costing over 3 million dollars.

As traffic woes escalate at Crawford Avenue & Main Street intersection, Deer Park finds itself at a crossroads. City planners recommend major changes for A Street from a quiet residential street to a major road within the city’s traffic system. City officials are seeking feedback tonight at an open house.

The City of Deer Park is hosting a public open house to unveil and solicit feedback on proposed alternatives to enhance traffic flow at the intersection of Crawford Avenue and Main Street. This event, slated for March 20th, from 5:00pm – 6:30pm, will occur at the City Hall Council Chambers at 316 East Crawford Street. Residents are encouraged to attend and contribute their insights to this critical discussion on improving local transportation infrastructure.

The study on the Crawford Avenue & Main Street intersection in the City of Deer Park aims to address current and anticipated traffic challenges. As an all-way stop-controlled intersection, it currently operates with acceptable delays. Still, projections suggest increased traffic volumes will lead to longer delays, particularly for the northbound approach, which could face nearly three minutes of delay during the PM peak hour.

Various improvement options have been explored to mitigate these delays, including a roundabout, a traffic signal, and reconstructing A Street and Arnim Street. Among these, the recommended option is to reconstruct A Street east from Main Street to Colville Road and restripe Main Street to include a northbound right turn lane. This option promotes alternative travel routes to reduce delays and postpones the need for a traffic signal.

However, implementing the recommended option comes at a cost, with an estimated expenditure of approximately $3,157,000.

J-U-B Engineering was hired to examine various options to alleviate traffic congestion at the Crawford Avenue & Main Street intersection in Deer Park. They present five options however, they explain that:

Option 1 – Roundabout: Roundabouts have proven effective in reducing delays at busy intersections. However, due to limited space and existing structures, a single-lane roundabout of typical size would not be feasible at Crawford Avenue and Main Street.

Option 2 – Traffic Signal: Installing a traffic signal could provide acceptable delay levels, with an estimated cost of $870,000. However, challenges may arise in situating signal poles without affecting sidewalk functionality, and expertise for operation and maintenance would be required.

Option 3A – Reconstruct A Street and Arnim Street: This option aims to divert traffic from the intersection by improving alternative routes. Enhancements to A Street and Arnim Street, along with restriping on Main Street, could reduce delay, with an estimated cost of approximately $1,448,000.

Option 3B – Reconstruct A Street to Arnim Street and north to Crawford St with a Roundabout: This option is similar to Option 3A but includes a roundabout at the intersection of Arnim Avenue/Crawford Avenue. ​ The estimated cost for this option is $2,628,000, not including right-of-way costs.

Option 4 – Reconstruct A Street east to Colville Road: This option is similar to Options 3A and 3B, but instead of improving Arnim Avenue, it extends the improvements on A Street east for five blocks to Colville Road, which already has a roundabout at Crawford Avenue. ​ The estimated cost for this option is approximately $3,157,000.

J-U-B Engineering recommends Option 4. This involves reconstructing A Street east from Main Street to Colville Road to city standards and adding a northbound right turn lane on Main Street. In their opinion, this option addresses current traffic concerns and allows for future flexibility, potentially postponing the need for a traffic signal. With additional benefits such as improved east-west connections and multiple travel route options, Option 4 offers a comprehensive solution to enhance traffic flow at the Crawford Avenue/Main Street intersection.

The full 60-page study concerning the Crawford Avenue and Main Street Intersection was prepared by J-U-B Engineers, Inc. back in August of 2023 and can be accessed here: DPGazette.com/hbarj

Sources:

• Crawford & Main Summary DPGazette.com/z59z3 Accessed March 20th 2024