AAA Gives Hudson Valley Village Gold For Efforts To Make Roads Safer

CROTON-ON-HUDSON, NY — A Westchester village has set the gold standard in what is one of the most essential functions of municipal government — keeping the community safe.

The Village of Croton-on-Hudson has won a Gold Award in AAA Northeast's Community Traffic Safety Awards Program for 2024. AAA recognizes communities that make extraordinary efforts to make roads safer for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.

The Village was singled out for its traffic safety efforts, including holding car seat safety checks, reducing the village-wide speed limit to 25 mph and the speed limit in school zones to 15 mph, adding additional speed signs on roadways, a dedicated traffic patrol car, and replacing pedestrian ramps to enhance ADA accessibility.

"The Village of Croton-on-Hudson is a walkable, family-friendly community. Maintaining a high standard of traffic safety is a top priority for the Village Board," Mayor Brian Pugh said, "This Gold Award from AAA Northeast validates the hard work of our staff and the volunteers on the Bicycle Pedestrian Committee. This award highlights the positive impact of changes like our new speed limits and improved infrastructure. Thank you to AAA for this recognition. This honor belongs to everyone who calls Croton-on-Hudson home, but especially our dedicated crossing guards and police officers who do so much to keep our streets safe."

AAA Northeast also specifically honored School Crossing Guard Lawrence Tramaglini with a Traffic Safety Hero Award. Tramaglini has served as a school crossing guard since 2015. He is currently stationed on Gerstein Street near the Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School.

"It is an honor to be presented with this Gold Award from AAA Northeast," Police Chief John Nikitopoulos said. "Receiving this award recognizes the hard work done by the members of the Croton-on-Hudson Police Department every day to ensure our streets are safe for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. I also want to congratulate Lawrence Tramaglini on receiving the Traffic Safety Hero Award. Our school crossing guards are a vital part of the department’s operation in ensuring our children are safe walking to and from school each day."