Despite requests from local residents for a change, officials with the Nassau County Department of Public Works plan no renovations to the traffic light situation on Roslyn Road and Lincoln Avenue, an intersection that stands next to Roslyn High School and one that is used by numerous teenagers during the school day.

A longtime Roslyn resident, who requests to stay anonymous, has written to local legislators and Nassau County officials, suggesting that the installation of an automatic traffic light is necessary. For now, there are two ways the traffic signal in front of the high school operates. According to Department of Public Works officials, the signal operates on a "semi-actual mode." The signal on Roslyn Road remains green for traffic in both directions until a vehicle approaches the signal on Lincoln Avenue. There, it passes over a magnetic detector on Lincoln and places a signal with the control equipment that will cause the signal on Roslyn to turn yellow, then red, followed by a green signal for the vehicle on Lincoln Avenue.

The other way the signal changes is for a pedestrian to push a button on a metal box located on the corner of Roslyn and Lincoln. This would place a signal with the control equipment that will cause the signal on Roslyn to turn yellow and then red, followed again by a green on Lincoln. Pressing the button will also allow for a "Walk" sign to appear for pedestrians wishing to cross Roslyn Road. The only way for the "Walk" sign to appear is to press the button. Boxes containing the button are now situated on four locations at the Roslyn-Lincoln intersection.

The intersection, this resident claims, is in a "high traffic corridor," making the school crossing situation, an "accident ready to happen." Noting that high school students are teenagers who rarely feel the need to press the button, he urges that the installation of an automatic traffic light is only a matter of good sense, especially since young people are involved. The resident notes that the same situation also exists at Roslyn Middle School on Locust Lane. He also claims that most adults who use the crossing never bother using the light button, either.

However, Nassau County officials reject the idea of an automatic traffic light. "Stopping Roslyn Road traffic every signal cycle throughout the day when pedestrians are not present would disrupt the general traffic flow by creating unnecessary delays and backups for motorists," said Peter Gerbasi, commissioner of the Department of Public Works, in a letter that was received by the concerned resident. "The resulting effect would be impatient and frustrated drivers, increasing the likelihood of traffic signal violations, putting pedestrians at risk."

Mr. Gerbasi also addressed the subject of other alternatives and possible improvements to the situation. He said the establishment of a School Speed Zone falls under the jurisdiction of the Town of North Hempstead. The installation and maintenance of flashing beacons advising motorists that they are approaching a school is the responsibility of the local school district. The assignment of crossing guards falls under the domain of the Nassau County Police Department. Concerning the School Speed Zone and the crossing guard issues, Mr. Gerbasi said his department would ask both the TONH and the county to review the situation and take any action they deem appropriate.

Department of Public Works officials did recheck the traffic signal equipment on Roslyn Road and found that all the equipment was operating properly. In recent months, some changes have been made to the intersection. For instance, in October 2001, the crossing sign was put in place.