Congressman Steve Israel recently announced that he secured $14 million for local transportation projects. The money is part of the six-year transportation bill that funds federal highways, transit and safety programs. It will now have to be reconciled with a Senate bill and be signed by the president.

Conversations with Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto helped Israel make decisions about the areas that would receive the funds. Among the projects locally are roadway improvements to Woodbury Road at intersection with Syosset-Woodbury Road ($1.5 million allotted) and roadway improvements to Jackson Avenue between Jericho Turnpike and Teibrook Avenue - ($2 million allotted).

The project proposed at the intersection of Woodbury Road and Syosset-Woodbury Road, located in Woodbury, has been the site of many accidents. In a request to Congressman Steve Israel, Nassau County and the Town of Oyster Bay both agreed that this intersection needs attention.

A description of the intersection as submitted to Israel by Nassau County reads: "The intersection of Woodbury Road and Syosset-Woodbury Road occurs at a steep incline. Vehicles on Syosset-Woodbury Road desiring to travel north must negotiate a hairpin turn. Limited sight distance on Woodbury Road increases the difficulty of the turn. The Greenbelt Trail crosses Syosset-Woodbury Road to the west of the intersection."

According to Israel, the current proposal will improve the intersection by converting Syosset-Woodbury Road at Woodbury Road into a "tree" intersection, which will enable the profile to be flattened and decrease the approach gradient. Also, according to the proposal, a traffic signal will be installed and the reverse curves on Woodbury Road, limiting sight distance, will be realigned. All curves in the project would be super-elevated, according to the proposal, and the biking and hiking trails that cross Syosset-Woodbury Road will be relocated so that the trails users will cross at a safer location.

The second proposal calls for improvements along Jackson Avenue from Jericho Turnpike to Underhill Boulevard in Syosset, a total length of .98 miles.

The proposal from Nassau County states "Jackson Avenue, a main road just south of the main shopping area in Syosset, is bisected by the Long Island Rail Road tracks just south of Underhill Boulevard. There are numerous skew intersections just to the north of the projected site. Traffic congestion occurs when the LIRR gates close Jackson Avenue. In order to avoid this intersection many people seek alternative routes by turning onto residential side streets or blocking connecting intersections.

"The current proposal will improve Jackson Avenue between Jericho Turnpike and Teibrook Avenue to a consistent 50-foot pavement width. The road will be one lane in each direction, parking will be permitted on both sides and a continuous left turn lane or painted median will be provided. The pavement between Tiebrook Avenue and Underhill Boulevard will consistently be 54-feet wide. In this segment, there will be one travel lane in each direction but the northbound parking lane will be replaced with right turn onto Ira Road. The area will be further improved by the installation of curbs, sidewalk and drainage facilities. This project also includes a study of the area to the north in an attempt to improve traffic flow without creating undue hardship for the local merchants."

According to Israel, the President is threatening to veto the bill. "Anyone who knows Woodbury Road and Syosset-Woodbury Road or Jackson Avenue, knows that fixing it is a matter of basic safety," said Israel. "We are hoping that the President doesn't veto the highway bill because if he does the projects remain unfunded and the roads remain unsafe."

If the president does veto the bill, Congress would then either accept his veto or override it. Although there is no set timeline on this, a decision should be made in the next few weeks.