The following is an ‘Ask The Mayor’ question submitted to TLS, and the Mayor’s response. Email your questions for the Mayor to [email protected].

Question:

Dear Mr mayor , I live near the corner of Rt 9 and Pine st. Everyday tractor trailers traveling south on Rt 9 struggle to make a left turn onto pine st. As the side walk jolts out making it a very tight turn. Often they get stuck and have to back up causing major delays. (some jump the side walk and successfully complete the turn.) I now see work going on at that corner and unfortunately they haven’t spoken to us neighbors about the issues of the corner. I’m hoping the Mayor could deliver this message- the side walks need to be shaved down aprox 4 feet to alleviate this issue (btw there’s lots of room to do this).

Thanks Mr. Mayor for everything

Response from Mayor Coles:

Hi David

Thanks for writing. This intersection is at the top of the areas we asked the state to invest some additional funding. We have requested that the entire intersection be realigned with turn lanes and widened

Committeeman Lichtenstein set up a tour with many DOT officials a month or so ago so we could show them exactly what needed to be done. When we reached Pine and 9, Deputy Mayor Miller met our bus and gave an impassioned plea for them to prioritize these improvements.

Take care

Ray

Question:

Hi Mr Mayor,

Thank you for all that you do.

I have a 3 part question

1. It’s known that sidewalks are being installed throughout rt 9. Yet I haven’t seen any movement on chestnut from evergreen to the Chestnut center parking lot. I have mentioned this in the past that it is very dangerous as pedestrians need to walk in the road as there is no sidewalk but bushes. Any update if and when a sidewalks will be installed.

2. The light at chestnut/cross street and rt 9 is way to short. Any way to increase the green light. Only one lane for straight and turning left and by the time the first car goes a few seconds is wasted and light is red

3. Anyway to get a light or a crossing guard at spruce Street and rt 9. Almost every morning there is traffic there and accidents are waiting to happen.

Looking forward to your response.

Shalom

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good morning Shalom,

I understand how frustrating the slow pace of the Rt 9 project is.

We have requested information about when the sidewalks will be installed. In the meantime, I asked public works to see if they can trim some of the bushes to make it easier for pedestrians.

The light is part of the same project. However, I have asked engineering to see if the county will adjust the timing of the current lights.

Finally, I have requested a crossing guard. The big problem is that we just do not have enough guards to go around. Every time I receive a question like this, I ask the public to consider becoming a crossing guard. It is a wonderful part-time job with the potential of becoming full-time. If interested, please reach out to my office in town hall, and we will connect you with the police department.

Thanks

Ray

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Have a question for the Chief? Send it to [email protected]