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Sag Harbor Express / Editorials / 2275411

The Gridlock Problem

Editorial Board on Jul 24, 2024

The current friction on the Sag Harbor Village Board may provide one small benefit: It’s going to put any idea through a wringer to see if it can hold up to close scrutiny.

Take the idea of a roundabout. The Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee is exploring the idea of a roundabout at the busy intersection of Main Street and Jermain Avenue, at the entrance to Mashashimuet Park. It might dovetail into Suffolk County plans to make the north end of the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike more pedestrian-friendly and safer.

But Village Board member Aidan Corish raised an excellent point: Roundabouts have become popular proposed solutions for problematic intersections, but they are designed primarily to keep traffic moving. In this case, it might work splendidly for vehicles streaming out of the village — but it could be a fire hose pointed into a teacup at those times when people are rushing to get into the village, when a blessed traffic signal can provide at least a little bit of relief, a necessary pause.

In truth, Bob Plumb has the right idea: Before looking at individual actions, the village should create a committee to examine the much bigger issue that encompasses traffic flow, parking limitations, and the county’s concerns and needs on the roads surrounding the village, even for several miles. It’s all intertwined and likely will require more creative solutions — not just roundabouts but new traffic patterns, dedicated lanes, innovative signals and possibly manpower to do more than write tickets — to actively direct traffic, especially at the times of the year, and of the day, when the gridlock demands something aggressive.

Every year, it seems, we look around and say, “This summer is worse than last year. Thank goodness, it can’t get much worse.” And then it inevitably does. This year feels like a new watermark moment, both because it’s reaching astounding levels, and because it’s no longer possible to entertain the idea that there’s an endgame if we just ride it out. Something has to give.

This Village Board isn’t as united as it has been in the past — but a challenge that requires everyone pulling in the same direction might be just what it needs to forge some new camaraderie. And maybe, just maybe, it’ll bring some relief, as well.

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