Groundbreaking For Long-Awaited Pedestrian Safety Initiative Friday

MAMARONECK, NY — A project that could save lives will break ground on Friday.

A Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Pedestrian Safety Initiative Project at the intersection of Fenimore Road and Prospect Avenue in the Village of Mamaroneck is planned for Friday, at 5 p.m.

In 2021, the Village of Mamaroneck Board of Trustees approved a resolution authorizing more than $58,000 for work to begin on a slew of pedestrian safety projects in the village, including improving the safety of the Fenimore/Prospect intersection.

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"In addition to many other capital infrastructure projects taking place around our village, we look forward to work finally beginning on the Fenimore Road and Prospect Avenue pedestrian safety initiative project," Village of Mamaroneck Mayor Tom Murphy said. "The time for this important project has finally come and it will make our streets and sidewalks safer for everyone, especially our kids."

After input from the community about pedestrian crossing concerns and walking assessment studies by the village's Traffic Safety Commission, the final project includes vital safety improvements:

• Landscaped "bumpouts" on Fenimore Road will shorten the pedestrian crossing distances and improve pedestrian visibility at the intersection.
• Native landscape plantings will buffer pedestrians from drivers.
• An ADA ramp will be constructed for accessibility.
• An in-road "Yield to Pedestrians" sign will be installed to warn drivers and slow approaching traffic at the crosswalk.
• "No Standing" signs at the Fenimore Road eastbound approach that will restrict parking for a length of 5o feet at the intersection to improve sight lines.
• A striped parking lane at the intersection along Fenimore Road will extend to adjacent intersections, to visually delineate the vehicle travel lane and calm traffic.
• Crosswalks at the Prospect Avenue, northbound and southbound, will mark approaches (in addition to the Fenimore Rd. westbound approaches).

This Pedestrian Safety Initiative Project complements several other capital infrastructure projects that are already taking place in the Village of Mamaroneck. LMC Media recently posted a video of Village Manager Jerry Barberio discussing the village's significant pedestrian safety improvements.

Because the Village of Mamaroneck is a member of the re-established Westchester Urban County Consortium, a community development block grant will help fund two new infrastructure projects:

1. The Waverly Avenue & East Prospect Infrastructure Improvements (CDBG Project). The village board moved to replace sidewalks and curbing along Waverly Ave., between the Waverly Ave. Bridge and Mamaroneck Ave., and on E. Prospect Ave., between Mamaroneck Ave. and the entrance to the Regatta garage. The project will take about two months to complete. The cost will be around $393,000 with half the cost coming from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and the other half from the village.
2. The Mamaroneck Avenue School Infrastructure Improvements (CDBG Project). The Mamaroneck Ave. School Walking Assessment recommended several sidewalk and safety improvements. The village applied for a CDBG grant and was awarded $150,000. Survey work is in the process of being completed for this phase.

Other pedestrian safety steps authorized by the 2021 resolution included:

• Application for community development block grants to enhance student safety in the area near the Mamaroneck Avenue School.
• Replacement of sidewalks near Mount Pleasant Avenue and the Mamaroneck Public Library.
• Installation of a sidewalk on Old Post Road connecting the Orienta neighborhood to US 1.
• Old White Plains Road/Grand Street Intersection pedestrian safety improvements.
• Installation of a new sidewalk on Orienta Avenue between Old Post Road and Hall Street.

The end result is expected to be an immediately noticeable improvement in the ability of pedestrians and motorists to safely coexist in the increasingly congested streets of the Sound Shore corridor .