After a pause due to COVID-19, Westchester County Executive George Latimer is restarting a Traffic Safety Task Force, made up of citizens and elected officials, to review all entrance and exit ramps on the Bronx River Parkway. This review is meant to take inventory of potential problem zones in light of ‘wrong-way driver’ incidents, notably following a ‘wrong-way driver’ incident that took place in Harrison among numerous other instances.
As first proposed, this pilot Task Force will consist of members of the Board of Legislators, New York State elected officials, members of the Latimer Administration and citizen-commuters. Latimer has charged Department of Environmental Facilities Deputy Commissioner Erin O’Shea to Chair the Task Force.
The purpose of this Task Force is to identify potential immediate ‘common sense’ remedies, like new signage, and act quickly on the recommendations.
In a letter to the committee Latimer said: “In early 2020, our County Administration created a Task Force to assess the conditions on the Bronx River Parkway (owned and maintained by Westchester County) and to recommend improvements that would reduce the potential incidents of Wrong Way Driving. Elements such as entrances and exits, signage, traffic lights, and other items that direct drivers should be reviewed by your task force, and a final report of recommendations for improvements submitted for our review.”
At the time of its creation, DPW/T Commissioner Hugh J. Greechan said: “The Latimer Administration is committed to working with all stakeholders to find solutions. Our Department took immediate action to review the particular intersection in Harrison in the short term and we look forward to working with this citizen task force in the long term.”